my life in world war ii - amvets department of wisconsin … · my life in world war ii by bob...

Chartered by The Congress ofthe United States of America

AMVETS ★ DEPARTMENT OF WISCONSIN VOLUME 24 ISSUE 3 – SPRING 2013

Officer Reports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Ladies Auxiliary News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

National News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7-9

State News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10-11

Post News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12-15

Americanism Winners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Do You Remember? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Pearl Harbor Day Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Recgonition of Readership . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Events/Registration Forms . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23-27

Inside This Issue

Dates to RememberMark your calendar now!

When the war started, I was in a restaurant having breakfast at 7:30 in the morning. An announcement came over the radio, “All service men report back to their stations immediately.”

I was in Charleston, South Carolina, stationed aboard the troop transport, the USS Crescent City. We prepared for two weeks to go to sea with 1,500 marines and six cargo holds full of supplies.

We passed through the Panama Canal on our way to Pearl Harbor. My first encounter with the enemy was when I was up in the crow’s nest watching for submarines.

I spotted something in the water that didn’t look right. It was a disturbance two points off the starboard bow, and I rang the bell and reported it to the bridge. I didn’t know what it was. When my watch was up, I climbed down to the bridge…and who was waiting for me, but the captain. I was really scared. ‘He grabbed my hand and told me what a good job I had done. He said it was a big black fish, but it could have been a periscope. I felt better after that.

The rest of the trip to Pearl Harbor was no problem. The first sight of Pearl Harbor was the battleship Arizona, still smoking.

We made three or four trips back to San Diego with servicemen’s dependents.

Then we started loading up with stores and the First Marines. Nobody knew where we were going. Now we know it was Guadalcanal.

I remember one day waiting for the convoy to build up, we crossed the equator 150 times.

We reached Guadalcanal on August 7, 1942. There were ships as far as you could see, and it seemed like the Japanese were waiting for us. They flew over us by the hundreds. I was a 20mm gun ammunition passer.

Our ship shot down two Japanese Beddie bombers that day. You could see some transports were on fire. One was the USS Elliott; it sunk. We put our Higgins Boats over the side into the water and the cargo nets over the side for marines to disembark. We were firing as fast as we could, until the gun bores were getting real hot; then we had to change them to continue firing.

It wasn’t long before the Higgins Boats were bringing the wounded back to the ship. There were some real bad burn cases. Still, we did get 85% of the ship unloaded.

We took off for Australia with our wounded. They needed more care than we could give them.

It wasn’t long before my first burial at sea. The ships’ carpenter made the coffins, and they used the lathe shavings or other metal to weigh the coffin down. We opened the lifeline and put the coffin on a sloping stand pointed towards the water. They covered the casket with an American flag, and had a sailor hold the end of the flag, so when the casket went over the side the flag stayed with the sailor. The next marine we buried. There were two that day; it was hard for me because I had visited him in the sickbay.

The trip back to Ispirtu Santos, an island where we would load up with stores and marines for another invasion, was uneventful. The first trip we made was to replenish Guadalcanal because the Japanese had bombed most of the supplies that were on the beach.

One day we were resupplying Guadalcanal and the captain anchored pretty close to the beach. I was topside on the ship and, all of a sudden, a big splash was off our starboard side. I didn’t see any planes, so it wasn’t a bomb. Later we discovered that the Japanese had a 5-inch gun in a cave on a big hill. It would come out on railroad tracks and fire at the fleet. Our ship being closer was an easy target. Our ship couldn’t get underway that fast, because we had to build up steam pressure high enough for the boilers to get up steam.

It was exciting to watch the destroyers going back and forth firing up into the hills. When the canal was secure, we found the gun that was giving us all that trouble. It was hidden in a cave, and whenever there were ships in the harbor, they would run the gun out on tracks, and fire at us until the destroyers got too close. Then they would pull it back into the cave – our skipper never anchored after that.

In 1943, I was transferred from the Crescent City to a LCT (Landing Craft Tank). Our job was to unload the transports when they came in to replenish the island. We had a crew of ten sailors and an ensign for a skipper. We carried 50 marines and four Sherman Tanks. We had two 20mm machine guns on our deck.

The waters around Gua-dalcanal were nicknamed “Iron Bottom Bay”, because of all the sunken ships.

A few days after that, we got orders to

form up with a convoy of LCT’s that were going around the tip of the island and trap the Japanese there. We left the beach with about fifteen LCT’s heading for the tip of the island. I was manning the starboard 20-caliber gun

My Life in World War IIBy Bob Johnson

MY LIFE IN WORLD WAR II, continued on page 3

Daylight Saving Time Begins March 10

St. Patrick’s Day March 17

Spring Begins March 20

SEC Spring Meeting– Neenah, Wisconsin March 23

Dept. Cmdr. and Aux. President Testimonials – Neenah, WI March 23

Passover Begins March 25

Easter March 31

April Fools’ Day April 1

Tax Filing Deadline April 15

Due Date for Sound Off Articles – Convention Issue April 15

Memorial Day May 27

Dept. State Golf Outing– Appleton, WI June 20

Dept. State Convention– Appleton, WI June 20-23

** Note: If your Post would like to have your activities remembered – please let us know **

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AMVETS Department of Wisconsin

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Mail to: AMVETS Department of Wisconsin 750 North Lincoln Memorial Drive Milwaukee, WI 53202* A National minimum amount that may vary from state to state or Post to Post. Yes! Enclosed is my $20.00* annual membership dues for AMVETS. I certify that I have met the minimum membership requirements — that I have served actively and honorably (since September 15, 1940), or am currently serving on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces, National Guard or Reserves.

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History of AMVETS In 1944, while World War II was still raging in Europe and in the Pacific, thousands of young men were being sent home with battle wounds and med-ical discharges. These veterans had a desire and felt a need to stick together; therefore, they began forming clubs which they called American Veterans of World War II. Soon, representatives of in dividual clubs united to help veter-ans help themselves; thus AMVETS was born. On July 23, 1947, President Harry S. Truman signed the Congressional Charter and since then, AMVETS has amended its charter in 1953, 1966 and 1984 so that today, AMVETS is the only Congressionally Chartered veterans organization open to all honorably discharged veterans who served honorably after September 15, 1940, plus those personnel presently serving on active duty or in the reserve component. Through the years, AMVETS has proven to be the most progressive veterans organi zation through exhibits of volunteer work, programs and service to veter-ans, their fami lies and communities throughout America. Your membership fee entitles you to each and every issue of Wisconsin AMVETS ‘Sound Off,’ published quarterly.

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Sound Off

Material Due Dates in 2013:

Convention Issue: April 15, 2013

Convention (Summer) .................................... April 15, 2013September (Fall) ..............................................July 15, 2013December (Winter) ................................... October 15, 2013January (Spring) ....................................... January 15, 2014

when a Japanese zero came in strafing us, the marines were hollering, “lead him, lead him”. We were doing about 8 knots and the zero was doing about 200. I was a trained gunner and I knew what to do. By the time I got a lead on him, he was pretty far out; anyway, as he went over the horizon his toil fell off; the marines were all shouting, “You shot his tail off!” They gave me credit for shooting him down. I had stopped shooting and didn’t see it, but I didn’t argue with the marines.

We got to the tip of the island and our orders were to fire into the beach and woods, whether we saw anything or not. I fired until our troops were landed and the tanks were on the beach. Boy…some excitement!

During the shooting at a zero, one marine who was close to my gun, was trying to dig a foxhole in the steel deck. His fingers were all bloody and he was in pretty bad shape. The marines took him down to our quarters to calm him down. We found out later he was sent back to the states under a section eight (that’s a person that is mentally unbalanced),

There was one big problem on Guadalcanal. It was one Japanese bomber who flew over every night as soon as it was dark. We called him “Washing Machine Charlie” – his engines sounded just like a broken down washing machine. He’d drop his bombs everywhere. One night we were all outside, and he dropped a bomb so close to us that water splashed on our deck, getting us all wet. We weren’t so cocky after that. One night, here comes Charlie again, and you could see the fire from his exhaust. He was pretty high, but we had just gotten in some new high fighter planes called Black Widows. The Black Widows took off from Henderson Field on Guadalcanal, and you could follow their exhaust heading for the exhaust on Charlie. When the exhausts met there was a big explosion, and that was the end of “Washing Machine Charlie”. We sort of missed him.

One day I got real sick with fever, like malaria; our skipper transferred me to the beach where they had a medic station. It was a tent with a big red cross painted on the top. I think the Japanese were using the tent as a target. It wasn’t long before I asked the Doc to send me back to my LCT. He let me go.

One afternoon the condition was black, which meant that the Japanese were going to invade Guadalcanal. We were ordered to put our LCT in a cove and cover it with brush, and go up into the hills with the marines in foxholes – boy, that was a new experience for a sailor. Anyway, the marines treated me okay. Our fleet came in and sunk the Japanese transports, so no Japanese got ashore. That night we could see the gun battle that was going on; the Japanese sunk two of our cruisers and four destroyers, but we kept them from landing troops. That was the night Jack Kennedy’s PT boat was sunk.

It was called the battle of Savo Island. When that part of the operation was over, we went back to our job of unloading transports. We still had a lot of problems with Japanese bombers coming over us every time ships came in. We were a small group, but the bombs didn’t care.

In May of 1944, I was ordered back to the states to put a ship in commission at Walsh Keiser Ship Yard in Providence, Rhode Island.

We put the ship into commission and went right back to the South Pacific until the war ended. My ship, the USS Berget, was a fast transport stationed off an island with hundreds of other transports waiting to invade Japan. Of course, the atomic bombs ended the war. Our orders were to secure the Japanese Naval Base at Kuri, Japan. The first thing we did was put our marines ashore. After two days of securing the base, they let the sailors go on liberty. We had no problems. The kids came up to us, asking for cigarettes and candy.

Everyone was very polite and friendly. They would bow to us and gave us a lot of respect.

There was a ship in the harbor that I served on in China in 1940 and 1941; a four stacker destroyer, the USS Stewart. It didn’t make me feel very good when I saw my old ship flying the Japanese flag.

Our ship put a crew on it and sailed it back to the states. When we got back from liberty, there were hundreds of Japanese rifles on the dock. They gave each one of us one; I still have mine. When that job was done, we spent the next year picking up service people and bringing them back to the states.

In February 1946, we put our ship in mothballs and I headed for Providence, Rhode Island to meet my girlfriend. It was a very happy reunion. We were married on March 2, 1946.

Editor’s Note: Bob Johnson, life member of Post 60, joined the Navy in January 1938 and retired in September 1959 as a Chief Petty Officer with 22 years of service. He was an electrician.

MY LIFE IN WORLD WAR II, continued from page 1

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It’s a New Year and winter has been good to us…so far. Wisconsin ended the first half at 98% in program reporting – thanks to all. I really believe we can make 100% this second half. I was told that Post 54 will be dropped in March and if that happens, we should make the 100% goal. Sorry to see they are leaving us. Let’s all try to put in January’s program reports right away.

Thanks to everyone who gave gifts at the state dance for the fishbowl. The gifts were of good quality. This was the highest amount of money ever raised in the fishbowl. We will need to do it all again at the State Convention, so start collecting them now.

The newsletters have been coming in each month; if you haven’t sent me one from your Post, please do so. They will be judged in April. Nine awards are up for grabs.

If you would like me to attend any Post or District meeting and explain how to do programs, let me know.

Hope to see everyone at the next SEC meeting, if not before.

Mark Reiling2nd Vice Commander-Programs

I trust everyone survived the joyous holiday season with family and friends. Now that we are past that and starting to enter our busy spring and summer season, it’s time to redouble our efforts to recruit new members. Like I have said before, every veteran should be a member of a service organization, but preferably OURS.

As we stand now we have 3,374 out of the 3,821 members renewed. I still think our goal should be to get the rest of the members in the fold, so to speak, and increase our membership to 4,000 this year. There are a lot of new veterans out there to talk to and try to recruit. Remember to always carry a couple of membership

applications with you. You never know when you’ll run into another veteran unexpectedly.

I also would like to thank the efforts of the 14 Posts that have reached 100%. All Posts should work towards that goal.

On a side note, I would like to let everyone know I am moving. My new address will be 2156 W. 9th Avenue, Apt. #1, Oshkosh WI 54904. I’m pretty sure both phone numbers and my e-mail address will stay the same; but if it does change, I will let you know.

As always, remember all of our troops and families, all veterans, and especially those hospitalized at this time. Keep them all in your prayers. If you have any questions about anything, feel free to contact me.

Take care.

Steve Chesna1st Vice Commander-Membership

Christmas and the Holiday Season are behind us and I hope everyone had time to spend with their family and friends. I hope some of you took time to visit the Veterans Homes and Hospitals.

It is time once again to get back to business. With our next SEC on March 23, 2013 at the Holliday Inn Riverwalk in Neenah, Wisconsin, I certainly hope that all of our Posts are making plans to send someone to represent them. It is important for every Post to be represented at the SEC, as this is where decisions are made and issues are discussed and if your Post is not represented, you then have no say in the outcome. It is kind of like voting for president. If you don’t get

out and vote, you shouldn’t complain about who wins. Same situation goes with the AMVETS. Decisions are made based on the majority vote of the representatives on the SEC floor. So given that information, I don’t want to hear any complaints about decisions made by the State Department from anyone who did not have a Post Representative at the SEC.

Most of our SEC meetings end up with only 20-25 Posts having a Representative on the floor. This is severely unacceptable given the fact that Wisconsin has 55 active Posts in the State. Please get your Post SEC, Alt SEC or Post Commander to go to the SEC meetings and State Convention and get the information and issues discussed and bring it back to the Post, so everyone is up to date on all the issues.

The afternoon/evening of March 23, 2013 will be the Commander’s Testimonial and the AMVETS Auxiliary President’s Testimonial to be held at the same location with cocktail hour (cash bar) from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. with the program to start at 6:00 p.m. The cost will be $28 per person and there is a block of rooms set aside at the Holliday Inn at a cost of $79/day (plus tax) for a room with a king-size bed or two full-size beds. I hope to see everyone there.

I encourage everyone to continue doing all you can for our Veterans and continue to keep our deployed service members and their families in your prayers.

Ted SterletskeCommander

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Steve Chesna

Mark Reiling

Greetings from Your Department Officers…

Commander’s Welcome

Chaplain’s Corner

Sad Sack Report

2nd Vice Commander-Programs

1st Vice Commander Membership Report

Ted Sterletske

Greetings from Department Saddest:

No hellos and unhappiness to all you sorry looking bunch of Sad Sacks. As I am writing this it somehow does not come clear that the year is not moving along and it’s almost over. Just not to let you sorry Sacks know, your Saddest has completed the Chemo regimen and still must get 2 more treatments of the study drug as required by the study. Not that any of you are interested but my hair is not coming back, but who cares, it’s only hair. Now enough not about me and on with carrying of the tradition of Sad Sacks.

On 08 December 2012 at about 1447 (2:47PM) after the SEC in Waupaca a brief scrimmage was not held for unfinished business and disorder. The turn out was below average with about 7 or 8 Sacks not in attendance, but nonetheless it was an unsuccessful scrimmage where nothing of importance was not accomplished and disorder was in full swing (cleaning and securing VFW and plus the rush to not go home) did not hinder us. Hopefully with Money Bags our money tree continues to bear dividends to keep our cash reserves at a decent

William Forry

A New Year is upon us and I would like everyone to take a minute and dwell on everything they have to be thankful for. With our busy lives, we tend to forget that there are others who are not as blessed as us. These are the people we must pray for and keep in our thoughts. Let us take a minute to pray for everyone and also those who have passed or are ill or hospitalized.

Most gracious Lord, abide with us; inspire all our thoughts; pervade our imaginations; suggest all our decisions; order all our doings. Be with us in our silence and in our speech, in our haste and in our leisure, in company and in the weariness of the evenings; and give us grace at all times humbly to rejoice in Thy mysterious companionship. Amen.

God Bless everyone and God Bless our Veterans.

Michelle ReilingState Chaplain

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By the time you read this article we will have our Christmas decorations packed away, survived the fiscal cliff and are still here on earth even though the Mayan calendar ended on December 21, 2012.

Since the New Year rolled in I know many of you have been caught by some sort of virus or flu bug and have been lying low. Please keep all AMVETS and

Auxiliary members in your prayers for good health. We have heard of so many of you being sick or needing surgery. I know Emily and Cletus remain in our prayers as he recovers from his tragic accident. May Cletus and Emily be given the strength to go through all the hills and valleys to the best recovery Cletus can have.

I am writing this at almost deadline notice, as the Influenza A and bronchitis found me right after we returned from our holiday visit with our son and family in St. Paul. We had a great Christmas with the granddaughters as they are at the age that everything is magical and wonderful.

October, November and December were exciting months with many travels. It is hard to highlight which event was the most special. Some were fun, some were very unique experiences and some were very rewarding. I went to different events and saw how hard our Posts and Auxiliaries work for our Veterans. To highlight a few of our travels, this was the year of the Veteran; so Ted and I (and many other AMVETS and Auxiliary members) had the thrill of being invited to the Capitol and Governor’s mansion as guests to see firsthand how hard our Governor and legislation is working for the Veteran, and it was very encouraging. We attended

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level and that Money Bags doesn’t go on a cruise without us.

Yet another year is not moving along so fast whereby we shall not gather in our cherished custom of the Sack as we gather and search out our humble beginnings and migrate to that spot where we gather as brothers. There we shall give a deaf ear to the loud flapping of gums, chipping of teeth and crying into liquids. This we do naturally, and remember a little nonsense every now and then is cherished by

the best of us.Just a quick unreminder: there is a scrimmage at the conclusion of the SEC in

Neenah on Saturday 23 March 2013 for unfinished business and disorder (there is not plenty of time before the testimonial). All Sacks are forever unreminded to not have a Sad Sack application on their person while not in attendance of said scrimmage, failure to do so will be justly rewarded by your SADDEST and duly not collected by “Money Bags.” I hope not to see you Sacks at the Scrimmage.

William ForryDepartment SADDEST

We, the mothers, wives, widows, grandmothers, sisters, daughters, stepdaughters and granddaughters of the American Veteran and female veterans, fully realizing our responsibilities to the community, state and nation, associate ourselves for the following purposes: To uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States of America; to safeguard the principles of freedom, liberty and justice for all; to promote the cause of peace and goodwill among nations; to maintain inviolate the freedom of our country; to preserve the fundamentals of democracy and Americanism; to perpetuate the friendship and associations of the American Veteran and to dedicate ourselves to the cause of mutual assistance…this by the grace of God.

AMVETS Ladies Auxiliary has been serving their families, communities and our nation’s veterans for over 50 years. All of our service is accomplished through volunteer hours and contributions of our members and supporters. Because of our members and people like you, who care and want to make a difference, we are able to support our various projects throughout the United States. Donations to John Tracy Clinic, St. Jude’s Research Hospital, PAWS With A Cause, and Freedom’s Foundation enable each of these organizations to provide the care to those children with disabilities and medical conditions, physically challenged adults and children, and instill patriotism in the youth of America.

Auxiliary Preamble

Ladies Auxiliary NewsA Message from Department Auxiliary President

Ann Palm

many events to celebrate Veterans Day and Pearl Harbor. It was a very exciting month. King VA Center also had ceremonies dedicating a Memorial to the World War II Veteran on Pearl Harbor Day. During Veterans Day and Pearl Harbor celebrations we take time to honor all Veterans and the sacrifices they and their families have made so we can enjoy our freedom. These dedications and ceremonies will live on in my memories forever. I also got to attend Post 60 and Post 3’s awards banquets. There are so many AMVETS and Auxiliary members working so hard behind the scenes doing things for our Veterans. Congratulations to all the winners of your local Posts and Auxiliaries.

Two interesting events I attended were the Christmas party for the VAC at King. We got to serve food and give out presents to those men…and many had tears in their eyes. The other event was a morning spent at Penfield Children’s Center giving out Christmas gifts to the children (infant to age 3) they help with special needs. Both these events are totally paid for and sponsored by Post 3 in Racine. What a lot of work and organization for a little Post and Auxiliary. Their own Kathy Hawkins was Santa’s elf, all decked out in her elf costume. It took me more than five minutes to realize jolly old St. Nick was none other than Bob Hawkins. Thank you for all you and your Post and Auxiliary do to support your community and veterans.

I traveled to Shawano to their Auxiliary Christmas party in mid-November, so our holiday season began even before Thanksgiving. Reedsville’s breakfast with Santa was truly a fun way to start December. Thank you to all for your hospitality and hard work.

Now it is time to look forward to what is coming up, and our calendar is filling up fast. I encourage all Auxiliaries if you want a visit from me, please ask soon. Ron and I are leaving for Pigeon Forge on the 21st of this month and will include a short stay at our daughter’s in Florida to enjoy their family and some sunshine. Being seven hours away was just too much of a temptation not to squeeze in a trip to Florida.

February gets busy with the Sweetheart dance in Sturgeon Bay, Stand Down in Milwaukee, Post 4’s Fisheree and Post 37’s bowling outing.

Don’t forget to get your reservations in for our next SEC meeting and Ted’s and

AUXILIARY PRESIDENT MESSAGE, continued on page 6

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AUXILIARY PRESIDENT MESSAGE, continued from page 5

my Testimonial. It is March 23rd and is a joint dinner to keep the cost down. There should be information in this Sound Off and most of you should have received an announcement with your minutes. If you need a copy of the information, let Ted or I know and we can email it to you, so you can get it in your Post’s newsletter.

Remember the importance of maintaining our organization is membership. We have lost several AMVETS and Auxiliary members to death already this year. Remember to keep an application in your pocket or purse, so you can be ready to

invite someone you might meet to join our organization. Membership counts. New Members bring new ideas and the more members, the more volunteers to help our Veterans.

God Bless all of you and God Bless our Veterans! Happy and Healthy 2013 to All!

Ann PalmDepartment President

Birthday Party for President Ann Palm at Post 7

Birthday party guests and Post 7 members with Commander Ted .

Commander Ted and Robin Sterletske . Happy Birthday, President Ann! Happy party girls .

Auxiliary Activities and Auxiliary SEC Meeting

PDP Darlene Hempel addressing the delegates . President Ann Palm addressing the delegates .

Rep Gordon Hintz with President Ann Palm on Veterans Day at Oshkosh High School .

On Thursday, January 31, 2013, the AMVETS Ladies Auxiliary Post 50 of Phillips purchased magazines, personal care items, food and snacks, and made homemade Valentine sugar cookies that were sent out to our local Price County troop members who are deployed . The Prentice Elementary students made Valentines for the troops and Angie Ericksen’s Prentice 7th and 8th grade students wrote letters to the troops . Hopes are that the troops received them for Valentine’s Day .

On December 29, 2012 the AMVETS Ladies Auxiliary Post 50, Phillips members got together at Dolores Gradinjan’s house and sorted and divided over a ton and half of food that was delivered to the four local food pantries at Trinity Lutheran Phillips, St . Vincent’s in Phillips and Catawba and First Lutheran in Prentice . Pictured are Linda Schweikert, Etola Foytek, President Dolores Gradinjan, Pastor Trewyn and Deb Trewyn .

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During Thanksgiving weekend, AMVETS Ladies Auxiliary, Post 50 Phillips member Marilyn Flietner, member of the Westminster Society, Ladies Presbyterian Church presented John McDaniels, Founder of the Wounded Warriors in Action Foundation (WWIA) with a generous check totaling $500 in support of our nation’s combat wounded Purple Heart heroes . Pictured are: Kathy Schilling (President), Auxiliary member Marilyn Flietner (Treasurer), John McDaniel (Founder, WWIA) and Tammie Karpinski .

On January 26, 2013 the AMVETS Ladies Auxiliary of Post 50, Phillips held their 2nd Annual fundraiser for St . Jude Children’s Cancer Research Hospital . The fundraiser was held at Club 13 Restaurant and Lounge in Phillips . Doors opened at 4:00 p .m . The public was welcomed to purchase a pulled pork sandwich, side dishes and dessert . They also were able to purchase raffle tickets for the 19 beautiful baskets that the Auxiliary made and raffled off . Besides the “Basket Raffles”, we held 11 paddle wheel raffles and larger items were auctioned off throughout the evening . All proceeds went to St . Jude – a grand total of $2,589 was collected .

Pictured is PAP Cathy Tratz on parade duty in Oshkosh .

** SAVE THE DATE**

AMVETS Ladies Auxiliary,Department of Wisconsin

Annual Spring Fundraiser

Saturday, May 4, 2013Time: 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Place: Sportsmen’s Club,Reedsville, Wisconsin

Chili Cook-Off • Raffles • GamesEveryone is Welcome !!!!

Presidential Memorial Certificate for Deceased

American VeteransEvery American family that has a deceased member who served in the military

should apply to the White House for a Memorial Certificate.Regardless of when a veteran served or the cause of death, every family is entitled

to receive a Memorial Certificate from the President of the United States.If any deceased member(s) of your family served in the military, please travel to this

website (http://members.aol.com/forvets/vvssp4.htm) for information on applying. Future generations of your family will appreciate you making the time to obtain

this family heirloom…your only cost is a few moments of your time and the price of a first-class stamp.

★★★★★★★★★★★★

Tri-State Bowling Competition in South Milwaukee .

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National News...

Veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan may be suffering from the 20-year-old set of symptoms known as Gulf War illness, according to a new report released by the federal Institute of Medicine.

“Preliminary data suggest that (chronic multi-symptom illness) is occurring in veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars as well,” the report says. This may be the first time that the symptoms suffered by veterans of the 1991 Gulf War have been linked to veterans of the current wars, which started in 2001 and 2003 said Paul Rieckhoff, CEO of Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America.

It also means the Department of Veterans Affairs’ definition of who qualifies for Gulf War veterans’ benefits should include those who served in Afghanistan, said Paul Sullivan, a 1991 Gulf War veteran and founder of Veterans for Common Sense. Because Wednesday’s report associates the symptoms with deployment, Sullivan said, the VA “should expand the geographical definition of the current Gulf War to include the ongoing conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.”

The researchers were to investigate treatments for Gulf War illness, including any existing research, to see what worked for veterans. Their research included traumatic brain injury, which is caused by blunt force to the head or proximity to an explosion; Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, which must involve exposure to trauma; respiratory problems; fibromyalgia; and chronic pain. About the symptoms

Chronic multi-symptom illness was formerly called Gulf War syndrome, the Institute of Medicine report said. It includes symptoms in at least two of six categories: fatigue; mood and cognition issues; musculoskeletal problems; gastrointestinal problems; respiratory difficulties; and neurologic issues that last for at least six months.

The symptoms are too broad for

any one treatment, the report said. Researchers also said there may be no specific cause for the illness. “Despite considerable efforts by researchers in the United States and elsewhere, there is no consensus among physicians, researchers and others as to the cause of CMI,” the report states. “There is a growing belief that no specific causal factor or agent will be identified.”

Anthony Hardie, a Gulf War veteran and advocate, disagreed: “They’ve lumped together so many ill people that it’s impossible to come up with one treatment.”Possible causes

Other recent research has shown possible causes for some of the symptoms suffered by Gulf War illness. A large-scale study done by Robert Haley, chief of epidemiology at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, showed veterans have damage to their autonomic nervous system caused by exposure to nerve agents after the US Air Force bombed a chemical factory. Beatrice Golomb of the medical school at the University of California-San Diego tested the value of giving doses of the coenzyme Q10 to Gulf War veterans and found that “every single” veteran found improvement from 20 symptoms.

For current war veterans, scientists have connected chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder and bronchiolitis to exposures in Iraq and Afghanistan including to garbage pits that burned as much as 240 tons of waste a day in an open pit, as well as to dust proved to be laden with bacteria and heavy metals.Negative repercussion?

Denise Nichols, also a Gulf War veteran and advocate, said she fears the report will add to American’s belief that the symptoms are “all in our heads” – even after numerous reports have come out saying the disease is physical and real. “We need true treatment modalities that address the physical brain damage and other body organ damage from the exposures we endured,” Nichols said.

President Obama signed legislation requiring the Department of Veterans Affairs to establish a registry for service members who lived and worked near open burn pits in Iraq, Afghanistan and other overseas locations. This new measure will allow VA to track the number of military personnel and veterans who have been afflicted with conditions due to burn pits, as well as inform them of treatment options.

“This is a tremendous victory for veterans and AMVETS,” said AMVETS National Legislative Director Diane Zumatto. “AMVETS has continued to push for the Department of Veterans Affairs to create a burn pit registry and believes this legislation will allow service members and veterans to receive the care they deserve.”

AMVETS has focused on the problems associated with burn pits in overseas locations, and has promoted the topic as a legislative priority since 2011. At the 68th AMVETS National Convention in Daytona Beach, Florida, AMVETS leadership and members passed Resolution 13-32: Open Burn Pit Registry Act 2011. AMVETS requested that the Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki develop an open burn pit registry to address the members in the Armed Forces who have been

exposed to toxic chemicals and fumes as a result of burn pits. In their many efforts to further progress on this issue, AMVETS’ National Legislative Department worked with Rep. W. Todd Akin, the creator of the Open Burn Pit Act, to develop legislation involving open burn pits.

“I want to thank the countless veterans and activists for veterans causes for supporting this legislation,” said Rep. Akin. “Without the support of veterans organizations, this legislation would not be moving forward.”

In addition to this measure, AMVETS continues to advocate for VA to develop a public information campaign that will inform eligible individuals about the registry, how to register and the benefits registering, as well as developments in the treatment of associated conditions.

“AMVETS is dedicated to advocating for continued improvement of VA health care benefits and services for all service members and veterans,” said AMVETS National Commander Cleve Geer. “By establishing an open burn pit registry, both President Obama and VA have taken a positive step toward assisting veterans who have been ignored, yet suffer from conditions associated with their service overseas in conjunction with open burn pits.”

Obama Signs Open Burn Pit Legislation

Department of Veterans Affairs to develop new registry

REPORT: New Vets Show Signs of Gulf War Illness

Researchers had been investigating treatments for 20-year-old symptoms.

How many folks do you know who say they don’t want to drink anything before going to bed because they’ll have to get up during the night!!Subject: Heart Attack and Water

Something else I didn’t know…I asked my doctor why people need to urinate so much at night time. Answer from my Cardiac Doctor… Gravity holds water in the lower part of your body when you are upright (legs swell). When you lie down and the lower body

(legs, etc.) seeks level with the kidneys, it is then that the kidneys remove the water because it is easier. This then ties in with the last statement!

I knew you needed your minimum water to help flush the toxins out of your body, but this was news to me. Correct time to drink water – Very Important. This from a Cardiac Specialist!

Drinking water at a certain time maximizes its effectiveness on the body:

• 2glassesofwaterafterwakingup–

Mayo Clinic Tips

helps activate internal organs.• 1glassofwater30minutesbeforea

meal – helps digestion• 1glassofwaterbeforetakingabath

– helps lower blood pressure• 1glassofwaterbeforegoingtobed

– avoids stroke or heart attackI can also add to this. My physician

told me that water at bed time will also help prevent night time leg cramps. Your leg muscles are seeking hydration when they cramp and wake you up with a “Charlie Horse”.Subject: Mayo Clinic on Aspirin

This from Mayo Clinic Aspirin Dr. Virend Somers, a cardiologist, who is lead author of the report in the July 29, 2008 issue of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.

Most heart attacks occur in the day, generally between 6 a.m. and 12 Noon. Having one during the night, when the heart should be most at rest, means that something unusual happened. Somers and his colleagues have been working for a decade to show that sleep apnea is to blame.

1. If you take an aspirin or a baby aspirin once a day, take it at night. The reason: Aspirin has a 24-hour “half-life”; therefore, if most heart attacks happen in the wee hours of the morning, the aspirin would be strongest in your system.

2. FYI – Aspirin lasts a really long time in your medicine chest for years (when it gets old, it smells like vinegar). Bayer is making crystal aspirin to dissolve instantly on the tongue. They work much faster than the tablets.

Why keep aspirin by your bedside? It’s about heart attacks – There are other symptoms of a heart attack, besides the pain on the left arm. One must also be aware of an intense pain on the chin, as well as nausea and lots of sweating; however, these symptoms may also occur less frequently.

Note: There may be NO pain in the chest during a heart attack. The majority of people (about 60%) who had a heart attack during their sleep did not wake up. However, if it occurs, the chest pain may wake you up from your deep sleep. If that happens, immediately dissolve two aspirins in your mouth and swallow them with a bit of water. Afterwards: Call 911. Phone a neighbor or a family member who lives very close by and say “Heart attack!” Tell them you have taken two aspirin. Take a seat on a chair or sofa near the front door, and wait for their arrival and DO NOT LIE DOWN!

Editor’s Note: Please consult with your doctor prior to taking any type of medication.

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National News...

The Department of Veterans Affairs will propose new regulations that will make it easier for thousands of veterans to receive health care and compensation for certain illnesses that have been linked to traumatic brain injury.

The regulations lists Parkinsonism, unprovoked seizures, certain dementias, depression and hormone deficiency diseases related to the hypothalamus, pituitary or adrenal glands as eligible for the expanded benefits.

The proposal, which must undergo a 60-day public comment period, could open the door to tens of thousands of veterans filing claims with the Veterans Benefits Administration, which is already struggling to process a huge inventory of such claims.

Since 2000, more than 250,000 service members – some still on active duty – have received diagnoses of traumatic brain injury, or T.B.I., according to the Defense Department. Though T.B.I. is commonly viewed as resulting from blast exposure, the vast majority of those injuries were diagnosed in non-deployed troops who were involved in vehicle crashes, training accidents or sports injuries.

The Department of Veterans Affairs says that a much smaller number of veterans – about 51,000 – are currently receiving benefits for service-connected traumatic brain injuries. However the department acknowledges that thousands more troops with T.B.I. may be eligible for the expanded benefits.

Veterans of prior wars will also be eligible for the benefits, if they can demonstrate that a traumatic brain injury was connected to their military service.

Under current rules, a veteran with one of the five illnesses has to provide medical evidence that the disease is the result of military service in order to receive veterans’ benefits.

The new rule would potentially speed up and simplify their cases, provided a veteran could first demonstrate a service-connected traumatic brain injury. Once that is established, the department will accept without further evidence that any of those five diseases was caused by the T.B.I., making the veteran eligible for additional compensation and health care for that particular disease.

The regulations include some significant restrictions on eligibility, however. Veterans with Parkinsonism – a neurological syndrome often resulting in tremors or muscle rigidity – as well as unprovoked seizures, dementias and hormone deficiency diseases will be eligible only if their traumatic brain injury was moderate or severe.

The vast majority of such injuries,

about 8 in 10, are classified as mild, with most of the rest moderate and a small number severe. The Institute of Medicine, an independent research unit of the National Academy of Sciences, defines a mild traumatic brain injury as involving a loss of consciousness or memory lasting less than 30 minutes. Severe T.B.I. entails loss of consciousness or memory lasting more than 24 hours.

The Department of Veterans Affairs said the regulations are based on policy citing a 2008 Institute of Medicine study, which concluded that evidence linking mild T.B.I.’s to the diseases was only “limited or suggestive.”

“We must always decide veterans’ disability claims based on the best science available,” the Secretary of Veterans’ Affairs, Eric K. Shinseki, said, “Veterans who endure health problems deserve timely decisions based on solid evidence that ensure they receive benefits earned through their service to the country.”

The proposed regulations also set time restrictions for some of the illnesses. Dementias must become apparent within 15 years of a moderate or severe traumatic brain injury. Hormone deficiency diseases must manifest themselves within one year of a moderate or severe brain injury. And depression must become evident within three years of a moderate or severe brain injury or within one year of a mild one.

The limits in the coverage are likely to draw criticism from veterans’ groups. Still, the announcement clearly pleased advocates who had spent years pushing for expanded benefits for T.B.I.

“Veterans should be pleased with the new regulations,” said Paul Sullivan, a leading advocate for the proposed regulations. But Mr. Sullivan, who is director of public relations for a law firm, Bergmann & Moore, that handles veterans’ claims, said the department must increase training and staffing to ensure that it can handle the wave of new claims likely to result from the new policy.

The last time the department significantly expanded benefits – in 2010, for several diseases linked to Agent Orange, the defoliant used in Vietnam – it prompted a tidal wave of new claims, significantly adding to the department’s backlog. Though the department has cleared most of those Agent Orange claims, it still has an inventory of nearly 900,000 pending claims.

Department officials said they had no plans to hire extra personnel to handle the new regulations, noting that they did not anticipate that the number of additional claims would be very large.

Rules Eased for Veterans’ Brain Injury Benefits

Every year, approximately 200,000 men and women leave the military, and look to further their career in the civilian job market. The government invests billions of dollars training the service members to become some of the most highly skilled and qualified professionals in a variety of fields; however, when they leave the military, too often there military credentialing does not carry over to the civilian world. If a soldier can drive an 18-wheeler through the desert in Iraq, under very harsh and stressful conditions, surely it is logical to assume he/she can carry a retailer’s freight from state to state back home. We have young service members managing millions of dollars in equipment and supplies in Afghanistan who when he/she leaves the military, often finds it difficult to land an entry level job in a warehouse.

Well, one industry is stepping up and a big way to help the men and women who have served and defended the nation. The transportation industry recognizes and values the skills, training and work ethic our veterans bring to the workforce, and they want to hire them to fill the thousands of jobs they have available.

This past February, many of the transportation industry’s leading employers participated in a groundbreaking career fair aimed at connecting them with veterans and military spouses from all across the country led by Penske Logistics and many other companies from the transportation industry that met and interacted live with the veterans through a virtual career fair hosted by Veteran

Recruiting Services.“Our company greatly benefits from the

core values, outstanding work ethic and leadership skills of veterans,” said Ken Hurley, Penske’s senior vice president of human resources. “Their diverse insights and fresh perspectives have proven invaluable to our Penske team. We thank them for their years of service and dedication to protecting our country.”

The transportation virtual career fair is just one of the industry specific events VRS will host this year, and will be followed up by other industry specific virtual career fairs for veterans interested or experienced in: Government, Financial Services, Technology, Retail, Health Care, Communications, Entertainment/Media, Energy, Environmental, Manufacturing, Defense, Hospitality and Food & Beverage.

Veteran Recruiting Services has also launched a military-friendly employer index by industry where the industry specific virtual career fairs will launch from at www.vetfriendly.com

In addition to Penske, some of the other employers already signed on to par-ticipate in the transportation virtual career fair for veterans are: Waste Management, Lowes, PepsiCo, Transportation Security Administration, DOD Civilian Expedi-tionary Workforce, Airgas, Philips and the Department of Transportation.

We encourage all active duty, guard/reservists, veterans and military spouses who have experience or an interest in a career in transportation and logistics to register at www.vetcareerfair.com

Transportation Industry Driving Down Unemployment

Rate for Many VeteransBy Kevin O’Brien, CEO, Veteran Recruiting Services

The Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA) is working with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to better assist veterans and their families avoid the cycle of homelessness.

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has announced that it has increased annual funding for the Supportive Services for Veterans Families (SSVF) Program from $100 million to $300 million and is currently soliciting grant applications.

Under the SSVF program, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs awards grants to private nonprofit organizations and consumer cooperatives that can provide supportive services to very low-income Veteran families living in, or transitioning to, permanent housing.

Through the SSVF Program, assistance

is provided to low-income veterans to maintain their current housing or rapidly move them into permanent housing in their community. The SSVF Program focuses both on rapidly re-housing homeless veteran families and securing permanent homes instead of temporary fixes.

Grantees will also provide eligible Veteran families with outreach, case management and assistance in obtaining VA and other benefits, which may include:

•Healthcareservices•Legalservices•Transportationservices•HousingcounselingservicesDuring fiscal year 2012, the U.S.

Department of Veterans Affairs provided a total of $1,464,767 to three nonprofit organizations in Wisconsin to better serve homeless veterans and their families.

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Boosts

Homeless GrantsGrant increased from $100 Million to $300 Million

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The Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs (WDVA) Secretary John Scocos announced the Wisconsin Veterans Home at Chippewa Falls (WVH-Chippewa Falls) will open and has begun accepting patients. A dedication ceremony at the home included special guests Governor Scott Walker and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Deputy Assistant Secretary of Intergovernmental Affairs John Garcia.

“The Chippewa Falls home will provide compassionate care in a modern building in a beautiful rural setting in one of northern Wisconsin’s most welcoming communities,” Secretary Scocos said. “We take great pride in providing the best possible care to our state’s veterans. We believe we have the best and most caring staff in the state. From the moment a veteran arrives at one of our homes until he or she leaves, we work very hard to meet and exceed their needs.”

WVH-Chippewa Falls is the department’s third veterans’ home, joining the Wis-consin Veterans Home at King and at Union Grove in providing care to Wisconsin’s

veterans and their families.The WVH-Chippewa Falls is a 78,000 square foot, 72-bed skilled nursing

facility based on the neighborhood concept. In keeping with a forward-looking model of care of creating a more home-like environment, the facility will have two neighborhoods, each having two 18-bed households. The neighborhood-like campus will provide a variety of social opportunities, as well as comprehensive, skilled nursing services. The new facility will also showcase works from the Wisconsin Veterans Museum that will honor Medal of Honor awardees, veterans who received the highest military award in the United States for combat heroism.Amenities at the Home include:

• Singlerooms,includingprivatebathroomswithshowers,forallresidents• Ahomelikediningroomwithmade-to-orderbreakfastsandfamily-styledinner

meals, and• Acentralizedmembercenter,featuring:aninteriorpark,chapel,beauty/barber

Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs Announces Opening of Veterans Home at Chippewa Falls

The Wisconsin Veterans Museum has a number of interesting programs planned this spring. All programs are free and open to the public. They are hosted in the Wisconsin Veterans Museum’s 2nd Floor Education Center, unless otherwise noted.

When: Thursday, March 14, 2013 at 7 p.m.Topic: More Than Freedom: African Americans and the Meaning of the Civil War Lecture and Book SigningLocation: Wisconsin Veterans Museum, 30 West Mifflin Street, MadisonSpeaker: Stephen Kantrowitz, Historian

Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation is generally understood as the moment African Americans became free, and Reconstruction as the ultimately unsuccessful effort to extend that victory by establishing equal citizenship. In More Than Freedom, award-winning historian Stephen Kantrowitz boldly redefines our understanding of this entire era by showing that the fight to abolish slavery was always part of a much broader campaign to establish full citizenship for African Americans and find a place to belong in a white republic. Bringing a bold new perspective to one of our nation’s defining moments, “More Than Freedom” helps to explain the extent and the limits of the so-called freedom achieved in 1865 and the legacy that endures today.

When: Friday, April 26, 2013 at 12 NoonTopic: Sunk in Kula Gulf: The Final Voyage of the U .S .S . Helena and the Incredible Story of Her Survivors in World War II Lecture and Book SigningLocation: Wisconsin Veterans Museum, 30 West Mifflin Street, MadisonSpeaker: John Domagalski

Sunk in Kula Gulf tells the epic story of the Helena’s survivors. Two destroyers plucked more than seven hundred from the sea in a night rescue operation as the battle continued to rage. A second group of eighty-eight sailors – clustered into three lifeboats – made it to a nearby island and were rescued the next day. A third group of survivors, spread over a wide area, was missed entirely. Clinging to life rafts or debris, the weary men were pushed away from the area of the sinking by a strong current. After enduring days at sea under the hot tropical sun, they finally found land. It was, however, the Japanese-held island of Vella Lavella and deep behind the front lines. The survivors organized and disappeared into the island’s interior jungle. Living a meager existence, the group evaded the Japanese for eight days until the Marines and U.S. Navy evacuated the shipwrecked sailors in a daring rescue operation.

Using a wide variety of sources, including previously unpublished firsthand accounts, John J. Domagalski brings to life this amazing, little-known story from World War II.

Note: The Wisconsin Veterans Museum is a free public educational activity of the Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs and is located at 30 W. Mifflin St., across the street from the State Capitol. For more information, go to www .wisvetsmuseum .com

Wisconsin Veterans Museum2013 Spring Programs

State News...

As the January and February cold hopefully soon starts to turn to warmer spring weather, history reminds us of just how cold our veterans have been. From the Revolutionary War to the current war in Afghanistan, our soldiers have battled not just the enemy, but also the weather, in their missions.

In the fall of 1777, General George Washington and his Con-tinental Army suffered several defeats at the hands of the Brit-ish, including losses at Brandywine and Germantown, effectively leaving Philadelphia open for the British and forcing the Conti-nental Congress to flee the city.

To keep pressure on the British, Washington positioned his forces fairly close to Philadelphia at Valley Forge, which became one the most romanticized tales of winter warfare and hardship in military history. While conditions were certainly not ideal, Washington’s men were meagerly, but adequately supplied, and Washington took the opportunity during the winter slowdown in fighting to retrain his troops.

On February 23, 1778, Baron Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben arrived in the camp. While in Paris, Benjamin Franklin recruited the former member of the Prussian general staff to the American cause. Washington accepted von Stueben and training commenced. The Continental Army was trained company by company into a professional, drilled and regulated fighting force on par with their British adversaries. Von Steuben also benefited the Americans by refining their sanitation – of the 2,000 men who died at Valley Forge, two-thirds were from disease, which likely would have been more had von Steuben not made changes.

The army stayed at Valley Forge until June, where the bitter cold turned to extreme heat and the Continental Army fought the British to a draw at the Battle of Monmouth and then scored a victory at the Battle of Yorktown, no doubt due to the winter spent training at Valley Forge.

More than two centuries later, our troops are still the best trained and equipped fighting force the world has ever seen. Just like the Revolutionary War, they are still doing the most basic tasks asked of soldiers in the same conditions they always have, this time on the opposite side of the globe in places like Afghanistan.

Just as our military veterans are the best, the manner in which we care for them needs to reflect that. We are always striving to help our soldiers and veterans – our veteran homes and programs for veterans in need are just some of the ways we strengthen our veteran population and ensure they do not have to relive anything close to their hardest days as soldiers.

We also like to recognize our veterans and continue to tell their stories and preserve them for history. Governor Walker recognized veterans in 2012 with the “Year of the Veteran” – to wrap up that celebration, there will be the “Faces of Freedom” event March 2 hosted by First Lady of Wisconsin, Tonette Walker, to benefit the Wisconsin Veterans Museum Foundation.

Senator Scocos

WDVA – Year of the Veteran – Faces of Freedom

Secretary John A. Scocos – Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs Announcement

VETERANS HOME AT CHIPPEWA FALLS, continued on page 11

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★★★★★★★★

State News...shop, café, recreation and activities room, library/computer room, therapy area and on-site medical examination room.

The WVH-Chippewa Falls will offer 24-hour care and the complete range of skilled nursing services, including sub-acute care; on-site speech, physical and occupational therapy; laboratory and diagnostic services; and long-term care in a spacious environment that promotes healing and recovery.

The facility will employ about 90 people.At the opening ceremony, the main building at the WVH-Chippewa Falls was

dedicated as the David A. Zien Hall. Former State Senator Dave Zien, a Vietnam veteran, was an especially important advocate for the creation of a veterans’ home at Chippewa Falls, proposing and pushing through the legislation that paved the way for the facility.

Health Dimensions Group (HDG) will manage the facility. HDG has a long history of partnering with State Veterans’ Homes and the Federal Veterans Administration, as HDG team members have worked with the United States Department of Veteran Affairs for over 20 years. HDG serves over 2,800 seniors in their managed communities in Wisconsin, Minnesota, New York, Iowa, Colorado and Illinois.

The facility is located at 2175 East Park Avenue, Chippewa Falls, WI 54729. The phone number is 715-720-6775.

For more information about employment or admissions, visit: www.WisVets.com/CF

VETERAN HOME AT CHIPPEWA FALLS, continued from page 10

Celebrating Forgotten Buffalo Soldier

Ambrose Skinner lived and died as many other Buffalo Soldiers did: he was born into the antebellum South, served in the U.S. military and departed quietly. His body lay unnoticed for decades at Greenwood/Memory Lawn Mortuary and Cemetery in Phoenix, Arizona…but not anymore.

The man’s unmarked grave recently received a military headstone and a group of historians and genealogists will gather at the site for a memorial service. Members of the Buffalo Soldiers of the Arizona Territory, Ladies and Gentlemen of the Regiment is an organization that runs educational programs about Buffalo Soldiers, and will offer a glimpse back in time by donning era-specific uniforms and gowns. A chaplain will offer a prayer and organization leaders will share Skinner’s obituary, complete a dedication and end with a three-gun salute.

Skinner was part of the all-Black regiments sent by Congress in 1866 to rebuild the country in the Civil War’s aftermath and to scout the Western frontier by building forts and roads and clashing with natives. The regiments, made up of about 1,000 soldiers each, got their name from American Indians, who called the troops “Buffalo Soldiers” because of their dark curly hair, according to the National Park Service. The soldiers were paid $13 a month – low for the time – and were sent with some of the meekest supplies.

“They did it to show America that they were men also,” said Fred Marable, a co-founder of the Buffalo Soldiers of the Arizona Territory. “That they could do the same as any other man.”

Aspirin: The 2,000-Year-Old Wonder Drug

Move over, apples…there’s a new sheriff in town. It seems that aspirin – the pain reliever relied on to ease a throbbing headache or aching back – taken once a day could be what actually keeps the doctor away. Multiple studies have shown that 75 mg a day of aspirin can cut a person’s risk of colon cancer by anywhere from 17 to 28 percent. It also reduces the odds of dying after a colon cancer diagnosis by 30 to 40 percent. Popping one baby aspirin a day has also been shown to protect memory and cognitive function in older adults, according to a recent study. The growing amount of research is finding that a regular dose of aspirin does offer some protection against the development of dementia. The cheap over-the-counter remedy could cut the risk of developing Alzheimer’s by a whopping 55 percent. As Americans search for options to trim the costs of healthcare, many are looking to this affordable, ancient remedy as a wonder drug. Aspirin Through the Ages

Officially known as acetylsalicylic acid (or ASA), aspirin’s origins date back 2,000 years. References to medicine (made from salicylate-rich plants such as willow) being used to treat fevers have been found on Egyptian papyri. In 400 B.C.,

Hippocrates, the “father of medicine,” recommended willow bark – which is rich in salicylic acid – to treat aches and pains and as an analgesic for women in labor.

Willow bark’s popularity stood the test of time. Legend says Lewis and Clark relied on it to treat fevers suffered during their famous expedition. In the 19th century pharmacists began experimenting with and prescribing chemicals related to salicylic acid, the active component of willow extract. Modern day’s version of aspirin is the result of German chemist Felix Hoffman’s work in 1897.Aspirin and Your Heart

In addition to being beneficial for brain and colon health, aspirin is also good for your heart. Accordingly, an aspirin a day ups your heart health by interfering with your blood’s clotting action. When you bleed, cells in your blood called platelets build up at the site of a cut or wound to help form a plug that stops the bleeding. This clotting can also occur in the blood vessels that supply blood to your heart, leading to a blood clot that can block the artery or prevent proper blood flow. While it doesn’t completely prohibit clotting altogether, aspirin helps by reducing platelets’ ability to clot.Is an aspirin a day for you?

Despite its popularity, some doctors don’t readily recommend aspirin to their patients or see aspirin as voluntary.

However the mounting body of research pointing to aspirin’s ability to protect against a host of diseases begs the question: Should Americans ask their doctor about incorporating an aspirin a day?

Many doctors do suggest daily aspirin therapy to patients who:•havehadaheartattackorstroke•haveafamilyhistoryofcoloncancer•hadastentplaced inacoronaryartery,havehadcoronarybypasssurgeryor

have chest pain due to coronary artery disease (angina)•neverhavehadaheartattackbutareathighriskofhavingone•areamanwithdiabetesolderthan50orawomanwithdiabetesolderthan60

Consult Your PhysicianThe typical dosage of aspirin as a preventive is 75 mg, fewer than a standard baby

aspirin. However, many doctors will prescribe 81 mg (the dose of a typical baby aspirin) up to 325 mg, which is a regular strength aspirin. There are downsides to aspirin, including aspirin allergy that can trigger an asthma attack, bleeding stomach ulcers and clotting disorders.

Before starting a daily aspirin regimen, it’s best to talk to your doctor about your specific benefits and risks .

AMVETS – Department of Wisconsin Convention

AnnouncementAMVETS Department Convention for 2013 will be held June 20-23, 2013

at the Radisson Paper Valley Hotel, 333 West College Avenue, Appleton, WI 54911. The phone number is 920-733-8000.

Room Rates are $85.00 per night, plus 11% tax for Single/Double/Triple/Quad. Mini Suites are $124 per night, plus 11% tax. The cutoff date for room reservations will be June 1, 2013.

The Fox City Convention & Visitors’ Bureau will provide name badges with our logo for the AMVETS and Auxiliary free, along with a set up on-site computer and printer for last-minute name badges. They are willing to assist us wherever needed.

Hospitality Rooms will have a charge of $70.00 per night. There are four Hospitality Rooms reserved.

Golf will be held on Thursday morning, June 20, with more details to follow. Get your golf clubs shined up!! Let’s get a big group to golf!!!

The 2014 Convention is at Radisson Convention Center, Green Bay.The 2015 Convention is at the Holiday Inn Manitowoc. The 2016 Convention is at the Mead Hotel, Wisconsin Rapids. More information and phone numbers to follow as we get closer to the years

2014, 2015 and 2016.

Duane J. Miskulin, PNC/PDCConvention Chairman

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Post News...

Looks like they had plenty of fun at the District 4 Halloween Party!

Post 3 and Auxiliary sponsored a Christmas Party at Penfield Children’s Center .

Our White Clover Princess led us in the Pledge of Allegiance .

Pictured is the head table at the banquet .

Post 4 Auxiliary Member of the Year – Louise Mahoney (right) .

Post 4 Member of the Year – Dennis Burdick (right) .

Enjoying the evening – Ron and Ann Palm .

Post 3Racine, WI

Post 4South Milwaukee, WI

District 4

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Post News...

Our White Clover Princess helped Post 7 member at the White Clover Drive .

Post 7 and their Auxiliary received the Cerebral Palsy Award .

One of our members proudly displaying the Cerebral Palsy Award .

Post 7 participated in the Veterans Day Ceremony at Oshkosh City Hall .

Watertown AMVETS Post 35 recently recognized Wally Wendt for his 66 continuous years of service to the Post with a service award certificate and a fruit basket . Wally served the Post as Adjutant for over 40 years, as well as Post Commander back in the 1950s . He also is a charter member who was involved with starting up the Post shortly after World War II in 1947 . Pictured above at the service award presentation from left to right are: Al Zabel, Finance Officer; Denny Berg, Commander; Wally Wendt; and Joe Hrobsky, First Vice Commander .

A number of additional service award certificates will be presented to Post members in the months ahead. Are you interested in being a member of AMVETS? You are welcome to attend Post meetings, held the second Thursday of each month at 7:00 p.m. at the Rivers Edge, 116 South First Street in Watertown.

To be eligible you must have served in the U.S. Armed Forces, including the National Guard and Reserves, anytime after September 15, 1940. Additionally, unless still serving, your discharge must have been under honorable conditions. If interested in membership, please plan to attend a meeting or call Denny Berg at 920-262-0880.

Joe Ready was also recognized by Post 35 with a service award certificate and a fruit basket . He has 35 years of continuous service to the Post, as well as he is the oldest living member at the age of 94 years . Joe thoroughly enjoyed being involved with the Posts’ annual Easter egg hunt . Pictured, back row, L-R: Al Zabel, Finance Officer and Denny Berg, Commander . Seated in front, L-R: Joe Hrobsky, First Vice Commander and Joe Ready (also godfather of Joe Hrobsky) .

Post 7Oshkosh, WI

Post 35Watertown, WI

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Post News...

AMVETS Post 50 in Phillips, Wisconsin presented a “Blue Star Banner” to Chris Noyce at the Post monthly meeting . Her son, Cody, is overseas at this time . Pictured, L-R: Gail, John, Norma, Chris Noyce, Doug and Wayne .

Members of Post 60 and the Auxiliary took time to trim the Christmas tree at the Zablocki Spinal Cord Unit .

Post 72 is shown at the start of the parade in Boyceville .

Marching proudly in the Boyceville parade .

A get-together at the Post .

Commander Gordon is shown presenting an award to Kristy Schutte for her outstanding job of organizing the Benefit for 1st Lieutenant Jason Church . Jason lost both legs in a roadside bomb accident . Thanks to the Veterans Center of Menomonie for donating the hall and the wonderful sponsors and volunteers who made this benefit possible .

Pictured, L-R: Norm Willert, 1st Vice Commander; Rick Sweeney, Finance Officer; Dave Buss, 2nd Vice Commander; Dennis Gordon, Adjutant; and Charles Gordon, Commander .

Post 60Oak Creek, WI

Post 50Phillips, WI

Post 72Connorsville, WI

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Post News...

Here come the Treat Helpers!

Kansasville AMVETS Post 911, Auxiliary Unit 911, Sons Squadron 911 and District 2 of the AMVETS Riders put on a Christmas Party for the members of Fairchild Hall at the Union Grove Veterans Home.

There were cookies, root beer floats and entertainment, along with Santa and Mrs. Santa handing out presents to each member of Fairchild Hall from their wish list.

Many of the family members came up and thanked AMVETS for remembering them and their family at Christmas.

Dale Peterson’s grandkids enjoyed the party .

Kim says, “I ain’t sharing with anyone!”

Presents were given out to resident members . Santa poses with all his helpers .

“So tell me, Jim…you wanna be Santa next year?”

“Tell me, Santa…can I have a doll for Christmas…please?”

On August 11, 1919, a score or more husky young athletes, called together by Curly Lambeau and George Calhoun, gathered in the dingy editorial room of the old Green Bay Press-Gazette building on Cherry Street and organized a football team. They didn’t know it, but that was the beginning of the incredible saga of the Green Bay Packers.

Lambeau and Calhoun struck the initial spark a few weeks before, during a casual street corner conversation. It was apparently a “Why not get up a football team?” remark, but once they were interested, they wasted no time.

First they talked Lambeau’s employer – a wartime industry called the Indian Packing Company, where he worked as a shipping clerk for $250/month – into putting up money for jerseys. Because the company provided jerseys and permitted the use of its athletic field for practice, the club was identified in its early publicity as a project of the company. With this tie-in, the name “Packers” was a natural, and Packers they have been ever since, although the Indian Packing Company had practically faded out of the picture before that first season was half over.

That first season the team won 10 and lost only one, against foes from Wisconsin and Upper Michigan. Games were played in an open field with no fences or bleachers, and interested fans “passed the hat”, but the team was so successful by 1921 that Lambeau was backed by two officials of the packing plant in obtaining a franchise (August 27, 1921) in the new national pro football league that had been formed in 1920. Cash customers didn’t quite pay the freight and the team had to be forfeited at year’s end.

This was the first in a long series of troubles that the now famous team overcame, for in 1922 Lambeau gained other backers and bought the franchise back for $250, including $50 of his own money. Troubles continued during that season. One game was rained out and the insurance company wouldn’t pay off because the official amount of rain was one one-hundredth of an inch short of that required in the policy.

However, another storm late in the season, when the Packers were scheduled to play the Duluth Kelleys, threatened to throw Lambeau further into debt. But A.B. Turnbull, Green Bay Press-Gazette general manager, advanced Lambeau the Duluth guarantee. He then lobbied town businessmen (“The Hungry Five”) behind the team, and formed the Green Bay Football Corporation.

From those modest and somewhat tenuous beginnings, the Packers have gone on to earn national stature and virtual worldwide recognition by winning more championships (13) over the intervening 80-plus years than any team in pro football.

These achievements, while representing a town of approximately 100,000 in competition with the country’s largest markets, have endeared the Packers to the nation. The David vs. Goliath concept and the team’s unique status as a publicly-owned corporation has intrigued generations.

The Packers’ colorful saga spans 89 years from the “Iron Man” period of the first decade under founder Lambeau to the present day, which finds Mike McCarthy presiding as the team’s 14th head coach.

Birth of a Team and a Legend

The Green Bay Packers – 1919 .

Who Is This Mystery

Man?

Answer: Bob Dessort at the District 4 Halloween Party.

Post 911Kansasville, WI

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Americanism Essay6th Grade1st Place Kenzie M. Opdahl Zap, ND2nd Place Rory Mahon East Islip, NY3rd Place Jarrett Newlon White Hall, MD

7th Grade1st Place Kasey Vandenboom Raleigh, NC2nd Place Pierce C. Burgin Sewell, NJ3rd Place Gabriel Crooks Red Bluff, CA

8th Grade1st Place Kristen Carew Fargo, ND2nd Place Ethan D’Urso Sprigg Tucson, AZ3rd Place Mikaela Toebbens Blaire, NE

10th Grade1st Place Otyelia Abraham Port Hope, MI2nd Place Tessa Thurman Spanaway, WA3rd Place Kelly Churico Orwigsburg, PA

11th Grade1st Place Alice Chong Columbia Falls, MT2nd Place Mae Whitman Westfield, VT3rd Place Adam Lebman Ottawa, OH

12th Grade1st Place Rochelle Miller Park City, UT2nd Place Mikyeong Jung Tacoma, WA3rd Place Kaya Segars Newport, TN

2012 Freedom Foundation Winners

9th Grade All 1st Place winners receive a trip to Freedom’s Foundation.Iowa Devon NissenMassachusetts Erin StephensonMaryland Sydney NewlonMichigan Taylor ScheurerMinnesota Joseph A. CheneyNebraska Stephen Blake Monfee, Jr.New York Kevin RosandNorth Dakota Sydney SchickOhio Emma BowdenPennsylvania Kristen RichardsTennessee Rachel HopkinsTexas Rachel LozanoWashington Emmanuel CeprianoWisconsin Maria Fuller

Americanism Poster2nd Grade1st Place Brianna Hoyle Lincoln, NE

2nd Place Annabelle Loveless Lancaster, OH3rd Place Molly Marquez Adrian, MI

3rd Grade1st Place Tyler McDowell Lyndhurst, NJ2nd Place Summer Nelson Littlestown, PA3rd Place Daniel Schumacher Linton, ND

4th Grade1st Place Madison McKay Powers China Grove, NC2nd Place Bria Brombacher Duryea, PA3rd Place Lily Hilgenkamp Arlington, NE

5th Grade1st Place Rio Whipple Cadillac, MI2nd Place Scott Sanders Poplar Bluff, MO3rd Place Haley Newman Wayland, IA

Americanism Flag DrawingKindergarten1st Place Elsie Anderson Fargo, ND2nd Place Kolton T. Kilbarger Lancaster, OH3rd Place Emily James DeSoto, MO

1st Grade1st Place Mason Mellmer Beulah, ND2nd Place Adam N. Chriser Lancaster, OH3rd Place Leila Heikkinen Wisconsin

AMVETS Against Drugs And Alcohol (AADAA)2012 Winners

AADAA - Essay

6th-8th Grade1st Place Sydney Newlon White Hall, MD2nd Place Tyler Fidler Port Orange, FL3rd Place Michael Hayes Lyndhurst, NJ

9th-12th Grade1st Place Naomi J. Schwark Manitowoc, WI2nd Place Philip Gawel Troy, MI3rd Place Matt Stevens Lyndhurst, NJ

AADAA Poster

K-2nd Grade1st Place Emily Marohn Reedsville, WI2nd Place Mara Copenhauer Baltimore, MD3rd Place Brianna Hoyle Lincoln, NE

3rd-5th Grade1st Place Lexi Wasmuth Greenleaf, WI2nd Place Nadia Christ Chesterfield, MI3rd Place Alicia Henrichsen Lyndhurst, NJ

2012 AMVETS Americanism Winners

What is This?(See answer on page 21.)

7 Rules of Life1. Make peace with your past so it won’t screw up

the present.2. What others think of you is non of your business.3. Time heals almost everything, give it time.4. Don’t compare your life to others and don’t judge them.

You have no idea what their journey is all about.5. Stop thinking too much, it’s alright not to know the

answers. They will come to you when you least expect it.

6. No one is in charge of your happiness, except you.7. Smile. You don’t own all the problems in the world.

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This photo was taken during the Commander Tour at the VA Medical Center in Minnesota .

Here are two photos of the Commander Tours taken at the Zablocki VA .

Commander Tours

Correct Way to Eat Pickles

“Now, be a nice boy and eat this pickle!”

“Come on . . .open up . . .open up!”

Did You Know…Vicks Vapo-Rub

Courtesy of PDC Al Willis

During a lecture on essential oils, they told us how the foot soles can absorb oils. Their example: put garlic on your feet and within 20 minutes you can ‘taste’ it.

Some of us have used Vicks Vapo-Rub for years for everything from chapped lips to sore toes and many body parts in between. But I’ve never heard of this…and don’t laugh, it works 100% of the time, although the scientists who discovered it aren’t sure why.

To stop night time coughing in an adult (as we found out personally), put Vicks Vapo-Rub generously on the soles of your feet, cover with socks and the heavy, deep coughing will stop in about 5 minutes and stay stopped for many, many hours of relief. Works 100% of the time. It’s more effective than even very strong prescription cough medicines. In addition, it is extremely soothing and comforting and you will sleep soundly.

Just happened to tune in A.M. Radio and picked up this guy talking about why cough medicines in kids often do more harm than good, due to the chemicals in them. This method of using Vicks Vapo-Rub on the soles of the feet was found to be more effective than prescribed medicines for children at bedtime. In addition, it seems to have a soothing and calming effect on sick children who then went on to sleep soundly.

My wife tried it on herself when she had a very deep constant and persistent cough a few weeks ago and it worked 100%! She said that it felt like a warm blanket had enveloped her, and coughing stopped in a few minutes. So she went from every few seconds of uncontrollable coughing to sleeping cough-free for hours every night she used it.

If you have grandchildren, pass this on. If you end up sick, try it yourself and you will be amazed at how it works.

Do You Remember…

The Ben Franklin Store?

The milk man delivering?

A percolater coffee pot?

A three-step chair?

A washing machine with a wringer?

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The Governor’s Mansion Tour Christmas Party for the Homeless

1st Vice Commander Steve Chesna and Auxiliary President Ann Palm at State Capitol for Veterans recognition .

Governor Scott Walker with Commander Ted Sterletske and Auxiliary President Ann Palm at Governor’s Mansion .

Governor Scott Walker with our White Clover Princess .

Ladies Auxiliary members with Governor Scott Walker .

Officers of the Department at the State Capitol . Our Christmas Party for the homeless at King was much appreciated .

Wife’s Diary:Tonight, I thought my husband was acting weird. We had made plans to meet

at a nice restaurant for dinner. I was shopping with my friends all day long, so I thought he was upset at the fact that I was a bit late, but he made no comment on it. Conversation wasn’t flowing, so I suggested that we go somewhere quiet so we could talk. He agreed, but he didn’t say much.

I asked him what was wrong; He said, ‘Nothing.’ I asked him if it was my fault that he was upset. He said he wasn’t upset, that it had nothing to do with me and not to worry about it. On the way home, I told him that I loved him. He smiled slightly and kept driving. I can’t explain his behavior. I don’t know why he didn’t

say, ‘I love you, too.’When we got home, I felt as if I had lost him completely, as if he wanted nothing

to do with me anymore. He just sat there quietly, and watched TV. He continued to seem distant and absent. Finally, with silence all around us, I decided to go to bed. About 15 minutes later, he came to bed. But I still felt that he was distracted and his thoughts were somewhere else. He fell asleep; I cried. I don’t know what to do. I’m almost sure that his thoughts are with someone else. My life is a disaster.

Husband’s Diary:A two-foot putt!? who the hell misses a ....’n two-foot putt?

How Men and Women Record Things in Their Diaries

★★★★★★★★★★★★★

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A humble 5-cent coin with a storied past is headed to auction and bidding expected to top $2 million a century after it was mysteri-ously minted.

The 1913 Liberty Head nickel is one of only five known to exist, but it’s the coin’s back story that adds

to its cachet: It was surreptitiously and illegally cast, discovered in a car wreck that killed its owner, declared a fake, forgotten in a closet for decades and then found to be the real deal.

It all adds up to an expected sale of $2.5 million or more when it goes on the auction block April 25 in suburban Chicago.

“Basically a coin with a story and a rarity will trump everything else,” said Douglas Mudd, curator of the American Numismatic Association Money Museum in Colorado Springs, Colorado, which has held the coin for most of the past 10 years. He expects it could fetch more than Heritage Auction’s estimate, perhaps $4 million and even up to $5 million.

“A lot of this is ego,” he said of collectors who could bid for it. “I have one of these and nobody else does.”

The sellers who will split the money equally are four Virginia siblings who never let the coin slip from their hands, even when it was deemed a fake.

The nickel made its debut in a most unusual way. It was struck at the Philadelphia mint in late 1912, the final year of its issue, but with the year 1913 cast on its face – the same year the beloved Buffalo Head nickel was introduced.

Mudd said a mint worker named Samuel W. Brown is suspected of producing the coin and altering the die to add the bogus date.

The coins’ existence weren’t known until Brown offered them for sale at the American Numismatic Association Convention in Chicago in 1920, beyond the statute of limitations. The five remained together under various owners until the set was broken up in 1942.

A North Carolina collector, George O. Walton, purchased one of the coins in the mid-1940s for a reported $3,750. The coin was with him when he was killed in a car crash on March 9, 1962, and it was found among hundreds of coins scattered at the crash site.

One of Walton’s heirs, his sister Melva Givens of Salem, Virginia, was given the 1913 Liberty nickel after experts declared the coin a fake because of suspicions the date had been altered. The flaw probably happened because of Brown’s imprecise work casting the planchet – the copper and nickel blank disc used to create the coin.

“For whatever reason, she ended up with the coin,” her daughter, Cheryl Myers, said.Melva Givens put the coin in an envelope and stuck it in a closet, where it stayed

for the next 30 years until her death in 1992.The coin caught the curiosity of Cheryl Myers’ brother, Ryan, the executor of his

mother’s estate. “He’d take it out and look at it for long periods of time,” she said.Ryan Myers said a family attorney had heard of the famous 1913 Liberty nickels

and asked if he could see the Walton. “He looked at it and he told me he’d give me $5,000 for it right there,” he said, declining an offer he could not accept without his siblings’ approval.

Finally, they brought the coin to the 2003 American Numismatic Association World’s Fair of Money in Baltimore, where the four surviving 1913 Liberty nickels were being exhibited. A team of rare coin experts concluded it was the long-missing fifth coin. Each shared a small imperfection under the date.

“The sad part is my mother had it for 30 years and she didn’t know it,” Cheryl Myers said. “Knowing our mother, she probably would have invested it for us. She always put her children first.”

Since its authentication, the Walton nickel has been on loan to the Colorado Springs museum and has been publicly exhibited nationwide.

The coin will be up for grabs at a rare coin and currency auction.Todd Imhof, executive vice president of Heritage, said the nickel is likely to

attract lofty bids that only a handful of coins have achieved at auction. A 1933 double eagle, a $20 gold coin, holds the U.S. record: $8 million.

Imhof expects the Walton nickel to generate some buzz.“This is a trophy item that sort of transcends the hobby,” he said. “It’s an interesting

part of American history and there are collectors who look for something like this.”Ryan Myers said he’s not keen on selling the nickel.“First of all, it had been in the family for so long,” he said. “It’s not like something

you found in a flea market or something you just found.”Cheryl Myers said they’re often asked why they held on to the coin for a decade

after they learned it was authentic, instead of immediately cashing it in.“It was righting a 40-year-old wrong,” by allowing the American Numismatic

Museum to display it for the past decade, it was honoring Walton’s wishes. “It has been quite a ride,” she said.

Humble Nickel from 1913 Likely to Fetch Millions

National Guard ReportThe 32nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team has once again

received an alert for possible mobilization in 2013. This will be the third mobilization for many of the units in the Brigade since the 128th infantry was mobilized in June of 2004. If you have a Red Arrow unit in your community, now is the time to make contact with their family readiness group to see what your AMVETS Post can do locally. I made contact with NGB about their Yellow Ribbon Program to see what AMVETS Department of Wisconsin can assist with.

As I reported previously I have lobbied the Wisconsin Assembly to have Wisconsin Highway 128 in Western Wisconsin dedicated to the 128th Infantry, which is one of the Battalions that make up the 32nd Brigade Combat Team of the Wisconsin Army National Guard. I have spoken with

and had email contact with members of the Wisconsin Assembly and anticipate it being on the Governor’s desk in early 2013. Representative Murtha and his assistant have worked on legislation and it would be an honor to have an event prior to the “send-off ” for the 128th Infantry who will be mobilized with the 32nd Red Arrow in 2013. This is an exclusive AMVETS project.

Mike HankeNational Guard Liaison

Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day Programs

Commander Ted Sterletske and Presi-dent Ann Palm placing the Wreath .

Presenting the Colors .

President Ann Palm speaks at the ceremony in Milwaukee .

Placing of the Wreath at the EAA Pearl Harbor Remembrance .

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Story of a VeteranWhen a Veteran leaves the ‘job’ and retires to a better life, many are jealous, some

are pleased and others, who may have already retired, wonder if he knows what he is leaving behind, because we already know.

1. We know, for example, that after a lifetime of camaraderie that few experience, it will remain as a longing for those past times.

2. We know in the Military life there is a fellowship, which lasts long after the uniforms are hung up in the back of the closet.

3. We know even if he throws them away, they will be on him with every step and breath that remains in his life. We also know how the very bearing of the man speaks of what he was and in his heart still is.

These are the burdens of the job. You will still look at people suspiciously, still see what others do not see or choose to ignore and always will look at the rest of the

On behalf of the AMVETS and AMVETS

Ladies AuxiliaryDepartment of Wisconsin

You and a guest are cordially invited to attend theTestimonial Dinner honoring Commander Ted Sterletske

andPresident Ann Palm

atHoliday Inn Riverwalk

123 E. Wisconsin Avenue, Neenah, WI 54956

Date: Saturday, March 23, 2013

Cocktails (cash bar): 5:00 p.m.-6:00 p.m.Dinner: 6:00 p.m.

Free Beer, Soda and music to followCost: $28.00 per person

Hotel Reservations can be made at a rate of $79 plus tax/standard room with 1 king or 2 double beds.

Fridge available upon request.

Call 920-725-8441 or 1-800-725-6348 and ask for the AMVETS Block (before March 1)

------------------------------------------cut here-----------------------------------------

Name________________________________________

No. attending_____ x $28 per person = _____________

Please reply by March 10, 2013

------------------------------------------cut here-----------------------------------------

Send reply to one of the following: Brian Svacina, 103 Church Street, Box 121, St. Nazianz, WI 54232

Jack Cummings, 10305 Reifs Mills Road, Whitelaw, WI 54247 Ann Palm, 1016 Kansas Street, Oshkosh, WI 54902

Directions to the Holiday Inn Riverwalk-Neenah 123 East Wisconsin Avenue, Neenah, WI 54956

From the south: Get on US Hwy. 41 North to Neenah Main Street, Exit 132. Take Main Street East 1.2 miles through downtown Neenah. Main Street will be renamed Wisconsin Avenue at the Commercial Street intersection and hotel is across from three tall office buildings.

From the North: Get on US Hwy. 41 South to Neenah Main Street, Exit 132. Take Main Street East 1.2 miles through downtown Neenah. Main Street will be renamed Wisconsin Avenue at the Commercial Street intersection and hotel is across from three tall office buildings.

Top 10 Moving Destinations in the U.S.

Americans are on the move. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, more than 36 million people relocated in 2012, an increase from 2011’s record low mover rate of 35.1 million. While many of those stayed within the same county, plenty of them packed their bags and moved to a different state.

10. Sarasota, Florida. Located on Florida’s Gulf Coast, Sarasota is home to Siesta Key Beach, which ranked as one of the top three beaches in the U.S. for four years in a row. In addition to its fine white sand and calm blue waters, Sarasota is the perfect place to enjoy boat rides, eco-tours, world-class restaurants and more. With a median home sale price of $165,000, according to online real estate firm Trulia.com, housing is affordable for many middle-income families.

9. Charlotte, North Carolina. Charlotte is a major U.S. financial center, with Bank of America and the East Coast operations of Wells Fargo both headquartered here. In 2011, the city was named the second largest financial center by assets, behind New York City. Nicknamed “The Queen City”, Charlotte is home to the NASCAR Hall of Fame, more than 40 public golf courses and plenty of other big-city attractions. On average, homes sell for around $162,000.

8. Seattle, Washington. It’s certainly not warm and sunny, but Seattle offers residents a little bit of everything. Check out the city’s gorgeous mountain and water views from the famous Space Needle, or enjoy the generally mild temperatures and locally grown food at Pike Place Market. Homes sell for a median price of $362,500; if you have more to spend, check out the unique houseboats – a la “Sleepless in Seattle” – on Lake Union. They’re more expensive than a traditional home, but offer a one-of-a-kind living experience.

7. Denver, Colorado. Denver is the perfect blend of big city and mountain living. A short drive from the Rocky Mountains, the “mile high” city draws residents who want to work hard and play harder – outside. From skiing and snowboarding in the winter to mountain biking and hiking in the summer, there’s always something to do. The weather is generally mild, with super-hot and below-freezing days peppered in for good measure. For all its perks, Denver’s home prices are reasonable – the median home sale price is $233,950.

6. Houston, Texas. Winters in Houston are mild, to say the least. Temperatures average in the mid-60s December through February, and are well into the 70s by the time March rolls around. If you like mild winters, hot summers and Southern hospitality, Houston is the place for you. There are plenty of employment opportunities, and homes sell for a median price of $124,050. For that price, you’ll have plenty of cash left over to enjoy the countless restaurants and shops Houston has to offer.

5. Chicago, Illinois. Residents of the Second City enjoy food from all over the world, thanks to Chicago’s diverse neighborhoods and entertainment that ranges

TOP 10 MOVING DESTINATIONS, continued on page 21

Military world with a respect for what they do; only grown in a lifetime of knowing.Never think for one moment you are escaping from that life. You are only

escaping the ‘job’ and merely being allowed to leave ‘active’ duty.So what I wish for you is that whenever you ease into retirement, in your heart

you never forget for one moment that you are still a member of the greatest fraternity the world has ever known.

NOW…Civilian Friends vs. Veteran Friends Comparisons:CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Get upset if you’re too busy to talk to them for a week.VETERAN FRIENDS: Are glad to see you after years, and will happily carry on the same conversation you were having the last time you met.CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Have never seen you cry.VETERAN FRIENDS: Have cried with you.CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Keep your stuff so long they forget it’s yours.VETERAN FRIENDS: Borrow your stuff for a few days then give it back.CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Know a few things about you.VETERAN FRIENDS: Could write a book with direct quotes from you.CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Will leave you behind if that’s what the crowd is doing.VETERAN FRIENDS: Will stand by you no matter what the crowd does.CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Are for a while.VETERAN FRIENDS: Are for life.CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Have shared a few experiences…VETERAN FRIENDS: Have shared a lifetime of experiences no citizen could ever dream of…CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Will take your drink away when they think you’ve had enough.VETERAN FRIENDS: Will look at you stumbling all over the place and say, ‘You better drink the rest of that before you spill it!’ Then carry you home safely and put you to bed…CIVILIAN FRIENDS: Will ignore this.VETERAN FRIENDS: Will forward this.A veteran – whether active duty, retired, served one hitch or reserve is someone

who, at one point in their life, wrote a blank check made payable to ‘The Government of the United States of America’ for an amount of ‘up to and including my life’.

From one Veteran to another, it’s an honor to be in your company. Thank you for your service to our country and defending the freedoms we enjoy.

Life is neither a spectator sport, nor a dress rehearsal.

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TOP 10 MOVING DESTINATIONS, continued from page 20

from the world-famous Joffrey Ballet to local rock bands. Public transit moves residents easily from neighborhood to neighborhood, so a car is unnecessary, and the median home sale price is $190,000 – a steal for a home in a large city.

4. Orlando, Florida. It’s well-known as the home to Disney World, but Orlando isn’t just Mickey Mouse. It’s also one of the world’s largest golf destinations and home to more pro golfers than any other city in the world. But you don’t have to hit the links to enjoy the city. Locals relish fishing, boating and other outdoor activities in the year-round warm weather. Homes are inexpensive, with the median home sale price hovering around $116,000.

3. Phoenix, Arizona. If you love warm, sunny weather, Phoenix is for you. The average temperature is 70 degrees in February, and rainfall is a rarity year-round. While summer days can peak well into the 100s, evenings are great for dining under the desert stars. Residents enjoy kayaking, hiking and biking in the spring and winter months, before the heat of summer gets too oppressive. The Phoenix real estate market is slowly rebounding from its post-housing bust lows, but the median home sale price is still a reasonable $131,000.

2. Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas. Reasonable housing prices, ample job opportunities and pleasant weather continue to draw new residents to the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Enjoy the classic, Texas-style fun, like rodeos, along with fast-paced thrills at the Texas Motor Speedway and Six Flags Over Texas amusement park. Even with all the nightlife, shopping and entertainment that residents enjoy, home prices remain reasonable – the median home sale price is $61,000.

1. Atlanta, Georgia. For the third year in a row, Atlanta was the country’s most popular place to move last year. A diverse city with many cultural attractions, residents enjoy the perks of big cities like New York and Chicago without the sub-freezing temperatures. Atlanta is home to the world’s largest aquarium, numerous critically acclaimed restaurants and a thriving cultural scene. For a city as in-demand as Atlanta, homes are affordable, with a median home sale price of $200,100.

Veterans Day Parade – Milwaukee

Answer to “What is This?”

on page 16: A dryer lint screen.

SEC Gives Okay to Start New Program

“THE SPEAKERS BUREAU”By PDC Jim Endres

With the recommendation of the Administrative Board, the SEC okayed the imple-mentation of a new National program called “The Speakers Bureau”. After discuss-ing the importance of this program with Commander Willis and National Programs Director, Beryl Love, it was agreed to have the Department of Wisconsin be the first Department to implement this program. Commander Willis and Director Love also agreed to have PDC Jim Endres serve as the program coordinator.

It is very important that AMVETS lets our communities and our Veterans know who we are, what we are and where to find us. For too long we, as an organization, have hidden our light under a bushel basket. By going into our communities and talk-ing about Veterans and the role AMVETS plays in the Veterans community, we can remove the bushel basket and let our light shine.

A brief overview of the program is this: • Wesendoutapreprintedfullcolorbrochureinvitationtovariouscivicgroups

and community organizations in our local areas. Rotary International, Lions, JAYCEES, schools and Chambers of Commerce frequently are in need of a speaker to enhance their programs.

• We,asAMVETS,sendtheseinvitationstothevariousclubsandorganizationsletting them know we have speakers available to them. We also have a number of Veterans’ topics we can talk to their group about.

• Theinterestedorganizationreturnsaresponseformlettingusknowtheywouldlike us to visit them and the topic they would like us to discuss.

• The request is mailed to the National Programs Department.They, in turn,let us know when and where they would like us to meet. The National Programs Department will also send us basic talking points that will support the presentation.

Information outlining the program has been sent to all of the District Command-ers for the distribution to all of the Posts in their District. We, as AMVETS, need to promote ourselves because no one is going to do it for us. By implementing this Speakers Bureau program in the Department of Wisconsin, we can educate and in-form the people in our communities as to who we are and what we do. All AMVETS interested in becoming a member of the Speakers Bureau, please contact: PDC Jim Endres at 5331 N. 107th Street, Milwaukee, WI 53225 or by phone at 414-466-0048. You can also e-mail [email protected] and you will receive a start-up kit and a “Participation Commitment Form”.

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The Wisconsin Department of Veteran Affairs and the Home at King cordially invite you to relish a piece of history where bonds of patriotism meet over 125 years of Caring for America’s Heroes.

All branches of the armed forces are represented here. Each branch has their own esprit de corps, but all are united as veterans of this great country in a community with camaraderie borne out of shared military experience.

The consideration and respect veterans show for each other is apparent and reflected in our mission as we strive to meet the unique needs of Veterans by providing compassionate, comprehensive care, built on the foundation of

integrity, honor and respect.Spanning across 320 acres of the richest, picturesque scenery, The Wisconsin

Veterans Home at King is a gem like no other. Exquisitely nestled between the blues of blue spring-fed lakes, embraced by lush green rolling hills, the sights and sounds of this magical setting will take your breath away. This unsurpassed beauty is not commonly home to a long-term care facility, but how appropriate a setting providing peace and tranquility for those who have borne the battle.

Come see for yourself what the Wisconsin Veterans Home at King has to offer, and how we are serving those who selflessly served for all of us.

Wisconsin Veterans Home“A Gem Like No Other – Wisconsin Veterans Home at King”

In recognition of all of our AMVETS family members, the Sound Off will award our faithful readership with a small cash recognition award token of thanks.

Each issue will contain the AMVETS Membership Numbers of five members posted below in parenthesis and bold – Example: (203095).

The recognition award will be $10.00, which means up to $50.00 may be awarded with each issue. Any member of the AMVETS family (which includes the Ladies Auxiliary and the Sons of AMVETS) will qualify. All members’ numbers will be selected at random and reselected each issue. Who knows? Your number may come up for some cash!!!

A gracious yearly donation has sponsored this endeavor for the benefit of each of you, our loyal readership. As some of our AMVETS family may not receive the quarterly Sound Off directly, the Sound Off is posted on our Department’s Web site for all to enjoy.

The Sound Off staff sincerely thanks you and wishes only the best to you and yours. So please, check out the Sound Off, find your membership number and enjoy the cash!!

Editor’s Note: Winning checks are issued at time the next issue of Sound-Off is published.

The Following Membership Numbers were listed for the Winter Issue:Dennis Clark 2330872 Dennis Hahn 2359513

Samuel Maki 1485354 Dennis Scherer 626340 Nancy Kotarak 468248

The following Membership Numbers are listed for this issue:(2086003) - (1167192) - (2011174) - (2321734) - (151565)

Recognition of ReadershipNo Winner This Time!!!!

All entries are due July 1. Awards will be presented at the 69th Annual AMVETS National Convention.

Now is the time that all Posts and Departments should be preparing their submissions. These have not been “scrapbook” competitions for a number of years; they really come closer to your presentation of a Best Practice in a specific category.

What has your Post or Department accomplished this past year that made an impact in one of the following categories: Americanism, AMVETS Against Drugs & Alcohol Abuse, ROTC Medal program, Special Olympics and/or Community Service?

Entries may be made for more than one program category, but each entry requires a separate notebook. All awards include both an attractive plaque, but more importantly, a cash award that may be used to further enhance your programs.

AMVETS – National Program Awards

By AMVETS National Programs Director Beryl Love

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66th Annual Wisconsin AMVETS State Bowling Tournament

- 9 PIN NO TAP -HOSTED BY AMVETS POST 99

Manitowoc, WisconsinApril 27 & 28, 2013

Meadow Lanes West LLCManitowoc, WI

*Entry Deadline - April 8, 2013

Post Number _______ Team Name _____________________________________________________

Team Captain _________________________________ Phone Number _________________________

Address___________________________City________________________Zip _________________

Appropriate fees must accompany Entry Form to hold choice of date/time. Type or print all information on this form.

ENTRY, PRIZE & BOWLING FEES

Bowling Fee $7.50 Team Entry $67.50Expense Fee $1.50 Doubles Entry $27.00Prize Fee $4.50 Singles Entry $13.50Total $13.50 All Events (Optional) $2.50

* Dates & Times filled on first come basis. Entries received after April 5th must accept appointed times.

TEAM EVENT

NAME Average1.

2.

3.

4.

5. (All events optional-see Doubles & Singles Event)

SINGLES & DOUBLES EVENTS

NAME Average All Events1. Y N

2. Y N

1. Y N

2. Y N

1. Y N

2. Y N

CHOICE OF TIMES: (circle 2)

TEAM EVENT1st choice 4/27 - 10:30 1:30 2nd choice 4/27 - 10:30 1:30 4/28 - 10:30 1:30 4/27 - 10:30 1:30

SINGLES & DOUBLES EVENTS1st choice 4/27 - 10:30 1:30 2nd choice 4/27 - 10:30 1:30 4/28 - 10:30 1:30 4/27 - 10:30 1:30

The undersigned certifies that those listed on this form are qualified participants as per the tournament rules. Any

misrepresentation may lead to disqualification.

Tournament Rules are found on page 31 of this paper.

____________________________________________________Post Commander or Adjutant

Make checks payable to: AMVETS Post 99

Mail entries with appropriate fees to:AMVETS BOWLING TOURNAMENT

Douglas Riesterer4334 Country Lane, Manitowoc, WI 54220

Wisconsin AMVETS 66th Annual Handicap 9 Pin-No Tap

Bowling TournamentRules and Regulations

1. This tournament shall be run in a 9 pin-no tap format where a 9 pin first ball hit scores as a strike. All other hits score as in normal bowling.

2. All 300 games will be paid at a rate of $5.00 per game.3. This tournament is open to all members of AMVETS and AMVETS Auxiliary, spouses,

children and guests age 18 or over. Guests are limited to two (2) non-AMVETS or Auxiliary members per team and one (1) guest per doubles event.

4. This is a non-sactioned tournament and is open to participants with established league averages and those without an established average. Scratch shall be from a 230 base aver-age; handicap will be 90% of the difference between entering average and the base 230.

5. Entrants shall use their highest final sanctioned or non-sanctioned league average, mini-mum 21 games, from the 2011-12 season. If entrant does not have a qualified final average from 2011-12 but is currently bowling in a league (sanctioned or non-sanctioned), entrant shall use average as of December 1, 2012, minimum 21 games. If current average, minimum 21 games, is 10 pins or more above highest 2008-09 season average, or the Dec. 1 average, the current average shall be used.

6. Any entrant who does not have an established average as described in rule 3 shall use 130 for women and 150 for men. They will receive handicap based on this average.

7. You may enter any event as often as you wish provided the following conditions are met:a. In Team Event, no more than three (3) bowlers from the same team may participate

together on another team.b. In Doubles Event, no more than two (2) bowlers may participate together more

than once.c. In any and all events, you may not cash in only once per event.8. Up to three (3) subsititutes are permitted on a Team Event and one (1) with Doubles

Event and Singles Event provided there is room on the schedule.9. Team Captains are to report to the Tournament Office at least 30 minutes before

scheduled bowling time to verify averages, participants, etc. to ensure that all information submitted is correct.

10. It shall be each bowler’s responsibility to verify the accuracy of the submitted aver-age and imformation. Average corrections must be made before entrant begins bowling for score. Failure to use correct average will result in disqualification if submitted average is lower than actual average. If submitted average is higher than actual average, the submitted average shall be used.

11. All AMVETS tournaments shall be held on the last weekend in April unless other activities should interfere in which case, the tournament may be moved one (1) weekend backward or forward.

12. The Entry Fee shall be broken down into Bowling Fees, Expenses Fees and Prize Fees so entrants can see how the monies are to be distributed. The Prize Fee shall be returned 100% as cash prizes.

13. If you want to put in a bid to host an AMVETS Tournament, you must meet the following criteria . . .You must support other hosting posts by having at least one team participating in the tournament for at least two years prior to putting in a bid and continue throughout the year your bid is accepted for; bids may be pulled for non-compliance.

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To All Districts and Posts:As you know, this is the time for AMVETS AADA Program. The theme for this

year is:

“Stop Abuse…Don’t Use”I strongly encourage all the Districts and Posts to become involved. Please set a

program and please contact the children within your area.The present daytime is filled with turmoil. We live in a world where mistrust breeds

terrorism. Our country is at war, both from within and abroad. Our young men and women are dying at the hands of terrorists. We must come together and stand as one.

Our school children are mixed with unsettled emotions. They need our programs and others to instill the sense of oneness. The awareness of patriotism that all of us, both veterans and others hold so dear. Our programs are just one means to this path. The various aged/graded children will be completing either posters or poems/stories subject to the above-mentioned theme. Hopefully, you will have many, many entries

submitted. We have the duty to have a successful program both to our organization and more importantly, to our country’s children.

You will need the required AADAA forms that should be reviewed and completed. The completed entries should be judged by your Districts and Posts with the chosen winners forwarded to the Department in care of my address. The deadline is May 15, 2013.

If I can be of any assistance, please feel free to contact me. Thank you!

Respectfully,Howard “Howie” PegelowAADAA ChairpersonAMVETS-Dept. of Wisconsin7462 W. River Bend DriveMilwaukee, WI 53219414-545-8582E-mail: [email protected]

AMVETS Against Drug and Alcohol Abuse (AADAA) Program

The Ted LeszkiewiczAMVETS Against Drug and Alcohol Abuse

(AADAA) Program

Doing our part…To help keep

Youth Drug Free

“Every child in America is atrisk of using drugs,

regardless of race, ethnicity or economic status”–National Survey of

American Attitudes on Substance Abuse

General Guidelines:Judges will take into consideration adherence to the theme, originality, literary construction and legibility.

Deadline:AMVETS Department of Wisconsin May 15, 2013

Theme:2012-2013 Theme is “Stop Abuse…Don’t Use”

AMVETS has partnered with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (www.samhsa.gov).

Contest Categories:Grades Contest MediaK-2 Poster3-5 Poster6-8 Story or Poem9-12 Story or Poem

Department Awards:Grade 1st 2nd 3rdK-2 $75 $50 $253-5 $100 $75 $506-8 $125 $75 $509-12 $175 $75 $50

Poster Guidelines:• Entriesmustbe9”x12”usingpen,pencil,crayon,paintoranycombinationof

these media. A straight edge may also be used to aid in drawing a straight line.• Thestudent’sdescriptionofthepostermustbewrittenonthebackoftheposter

in 50 words or less. Descriptions that are attached to the back of the poster will also be accepted.

Essay/Poem Guidelines:• Allstories/poemsmaybewritteninblueink,typedorproducedonacomputer.• Allstudentsmustaddressthetheme.• Essayssubmittedby6ththrough8thgradestudentsmustbe250wordsorless;

9th through 12th grade students must be 350 words or less.

The Ted LeszkiewiczAMVETS Against Drug and Alcohol Abuse

(AADAA Program)Student Information:

____ Grade Category

Name __________________________________________________________

Birth Date: ______/______/____________

Address: _______________________________________________________

City, State, Zip: __________________________________________________

Telephone #: ( _________ ) _________ - _____________________

Parent or Guardian’s Name: ________________________________________

Circle type of work submitted: Poster Essay (story or poem)

Name of School: _________________________________________________

Address: _______________________________________________________

Teacher’s Name: _________________________________________________

School Telephone Number : ( _________ ) _________ - _____________________

Entries must be submitted to the designated Department official. This section must be completed and signed by the Department AADAA officer or executive director. ONLY 1st place Post/Department entries can be submitted to National Headquarters. A letter from the appropriate Post/Department official must state, – “the attached entries are the official Post or Department entries.”

The attached is submitted for entry by:AMVETS Department/Post or Ladies Auxiliary: _______________________

Title: __________________________________________________________

Address: _______________________________________________________

City, State, Zip: __________________________________________________

Signature _______________________________________________________ Date: ______/______/______

★★★★★★★★★★★

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FLAG COLORING CONTEST Doug Rasmussen

N8804 8 Mile Road Phillips, WI 54555

715-820-4676 Email: [email protected]

ESSAY CONTEST Vince Marchetti

W5531 Shrine Road Neceedah, WI 54646

608-565-2787Email: [email protected]

AUXILIARY-AMERICANISM Georgette Sampo

2600 E. Main Street, Lot 88Merrill, WI 54452

715-536-4102

PLEASE CONTACT THE DEPARTMENT’S AMERICANISM CHAIRMEN

National Americanism ESSAY Contest

AMVETS National AmericanismEssay Contest Rules

Who can participate? All students in 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th or 12th grades that attend public, private, parochial schools, are home schooled or are members of a youth group/Sunday school are eligible to enter.

Annual Theme:2012-2013 Why is it important to vote?

Contest rules:•Allstudentsmustaddressthetheme.•Allessaysmaybewritteninink,typedorproducedonacomputer•6thGradestudentsshouldsubmitessaysof200wordsorless•7thand8thGradestudentsshouldsubmitessaysof300wordsorless•9thand10thGradestudentsshouldsubmitessaysof400wordsorless•11thand12thGradestudentsshouldsubmitessaysof500wordsorless•All national entries must be postmarked by July 1. Local and state

deadlines may vary.

Criteria for judging of Posters:•Originality•Adherencetothetheme•LiteraryComposition

National Awards – VISA Gift Cards6th Grade: 1st – $125 2nd – $100 3rd – $757th Grade: 1st – $150 2nd – $125 3rd – $1008th Grade: 1st – $150 2nd – $125 3rd – $1009th Grade: 1st – $375 2nd – $250 3rd – $15010th Grade: 1st – $375 2nd – $250 3rd – $15011th Grade: 1st – $500 2nd – $375 3rd – $25012th Grade: 1st – $500 2nd – $375 3rd – $250

All 9th Grade Department 1st Place winners receive an all-expense paid trip to the Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania for a long weekend of youth-oriented activities. Dynamic speakers and sightseeing are highlights of a trip that is sure to be long remembered.

Co-Sponsored by AMVETS and AMVETS Ladies AuxiliaryENTRY FORM

Please print legibly or typeApplications and essays should be returned to your local AMVETS Post or State Department

STUDENT INFORMATION:

National Americanism Essay Contest in the ___________________________ grade category.

Name: ______________________________________________________________ Birth Date: ______/______/

Address: ______________________________________________________________________________________

City, State, Zip: _________________________________________________________________________________

Telephone #: ( _________ ) _________ - _____________________

Name of Parent/Guardian: ________________________________________________________________________

Name of School: ________________________________________________________________________________

School Address: ________________________________________________________________________________

City, State, Zip: _________________________________________________________________________________

Telephone #: ( _________ ) _________ - _____________________

Teacher’s Name: ________________________________________________________________________________

This section must be completed and signed by the Department Americanism Officer or Executive Director. Essay entries must be submitted to the designated Department official. Only 1st place Department entries can be submit-ted to National Headquarters. A letter from the appropriate Post Official must state:

The attached 1st Place Poster is submitted for entry by:

AMVETS/Ladies Auxiliary – Department/Post: _________________________________________________________

Address: ______________________________________________________________________________________

City, State, Zip: _________________________________________________________________________________

Telephone #: ( _________ ) _________ - _____________________

___________________________ ______________________________________________________________Date _______________________ Signature of AMVETS/Auxiliary Department Americanism Chairman

What is the AMVETS Americanism Program? It is a patriotic program the organization offers schools and youth organizations as a resource for teaching children in kindergarten through 12th grade about their American heritage, civics and citizenship. The program includes flag drawing, poster and essay contests that are grade specific and age appropriate. AMVETS and AMVETS Ladies Auxiliary sponsor a series of contests at the local and state level wherein children design flags or posters and write essays. The winners at the local level progress to the state contests and the state winners are then entered into the National competition.

Who is eligible? All school age children, K-12. They may attend public, private, parochial schools or may be home schooled. Participants may also come through any youth group such as Scouting or from Church Sunday schools.

Students in kindergarten and 1st grade can enter the Flag Coloring contestStudents in 2nd to 5th grades can enter the Poster contest

Students in 6th to 12th grades can enter the Essay Writing contestHow does a child or young adult participate? Teachers or youth group leaders

hopefully will take the initiative to involve their students. The program addresses learning standards in civics and presents excellent topics for writing and art assignments, which teachers can incorporate into their classes. Teachers may also contact a local AMVETS post or department to invite veterans to visit their classes. Students whose teachers or schools are not participating in the program can still enter the contest specific to their grade as a take-home or after-school project. Parents may contact a local AMVETS Post or Department, on behalf of their children.

Flag Coloring (for students in kindergarten and 1st grade) **no longer drawing the flag…just coloring the flag**

Poster (for students in 2nd through 5th grades)Essay (for students in 6th through 12th grades)

AMVETS – Americanism Program

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AMVETS National AmericanismFlag Coloring Contest Rules

Who can participate? All students in kindergarten and first grade who attend public, pri-vate, parochial schools, are home schooled or are members of a youth group/Sunday school are eligible to enter.

Theme: Color the American Flag Template.

Contest rules:•Flagtemplatemaybecoloredusingmarkersorcrayons.• Questions must be answered.• Entries must use the template provided or copies of the template,

including both sides.•All national entriesmust bepostmarkedby July1.Local and state

deadlines may vary.

Criteria for judging of Posters:•UseofTemplateprovided(Seenextpage)•Neatness•Answerstoquestions

National Awards – VISA Gift CardsKindergarten: 1st – $75 2nd – $50 3rd – $251st Grade: 1st – $75 2nd – $50 3rd – $25


Please print legibly or typeApplications with Colored Flags should be returned to your local AMVETS Post or State Department


National Americanism Flag Coloring Contest in the ____________________ grade category.

Name: ______________________________________________________________ Birth Date: ______/______/

Address: ______________________________________________________________________________________

City, State, Zip: _________________________________________________________________________________

Telephone #: ( _________ ) _________ - _____________________


Name of School: ________________________________________________________________________________

School Address: ________________________________________________________________________________

City, State, Zip: _________________________________________________________________________________

Telephone #: ( _________ ) _________ - _____________________

Teacher’s Name: ________________________________________________________________________________

This section must be completed and signed by the Department Americanism Officer or Executive Director. Flag coloring entries must be submitted to the designated Department official. Only 1st place Department entries can be submitted to National Headquarters. A letter from the appropriate Post Official must state:

The attached 1st Place Flag Drawing is submitted for entry by:


Address: ______________________________________________________________________________________

City, State, Zip: _________________________________________________________________________________

Telephone #: ( _________ ) _________ - _____________________


AMVETS NATIONAL AMERICANISM

FLAG COLORING CONTEST

NATIONAL AMERICANISM

POSTER CONTESTAMVETS National Americanism

Poster Contest RulesWho can participate? All students in 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th grades that attend public, pri-vate, parochial schools, are home schooled or are members of a youth group/Sunday school are eligible to enter.

Annual Theme:2012-2013 Why is it important to Vote?

Contest rules:•Allstudentsmustaddressthetheme.•Entriesmustbefree-handdrawings,usingpen,pencil,crayon,paint

or any combination of these materials. A straight edge may be used as an aid in drawing a straight line.

•Gluingpicturesorothermaterialstothesurfaceofthedrawingisnotpermitted.

•Thestudent’sdescriptionofthepostermustbewrittenonthebackofthe poster in 50 words or less. Descriptions that are firmly attached to the back of the poster will also be accepted.

•Entriesmustbe9”x12”usingconstructionpaperorposterboard.•All national entries must be postmarked by July 1. Local and state

deadlines may vary.

Criteria for judging of Posters:•Artisticability•Adherencetothetheme•Neatness

National Awards – VISA Gift Cards2nd Grade: 1st – $100 2nd – $75 3rd – $503rd Grade: 1st – $100 2nd – $75 3rd – $504th Grade: 1st – $125 2nd – $100 3rd – $755th Grade: 1st – $150 2nd – $125 3rd – $100


Please print legibly or typeApplications and posters should be returned to your local AMVETS Post or State Department


National Americanism Poster Contest in the __________________________ grade category.

Name: ______________________________________________________________ Birth Date: ______/______/

Address: ______________________________________________________________________________________

City, State, Zip: _________________________________________________________________________________

Telephone #: ( _________ ) _________ - _____________________


Name of School: ________________________________________________________________________________

School Address: ________________________________________________________________________________

City, State, Zip: _________________________________________________________________________________

Telephone #: ( _________ ) _________ - _____________________

Teacher’s Name: ________________________________________________________________________________

This section must be completed and signed by the Department Americanism Officer or Executive Director. Poster entries must be submitted to the designated Department official. Only 1st place Department entries can be submit-ted to National Headquarters. A letter from the appropriate Post Official must state:

The attached 1st Place Flag Drawing is submitted for entry by:


Address: ______________________________________________________________________________________

City, State, Zip: _________________________________________________________________________________

Telephone #: ( _________ ) _________ - _____________________


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Commander Ted Sterletske 222 S. Main St., Brillion, WI 54110 920-427-6543 [email protected] Cmdr. - Membership Steve Chesna 2622 Oakwood Circle, Oshkosh, WI 54904 920-235-2617 [email protected] Cmdr. - Programs Mark Reiling, Sr. W11212 Zerngable Rd., Park Falls, WI 54552 715-762-1850 [email protected] Officer Dennis Maeder 8811 W. Daphne Street, Milwaukee, WI 53224 414-353-6080 [email protected] Advocate Jim Smejkal W3197 County Trunk O, Appleton, WI 54913 920-420-5180 [email protected]:1 Year Peter Jozefowski 409 Hillcrest Dr., Beaver Dam, WI 53916 920-382-9268 [email protected] Year Jim Ruppel N33W7120 Buchanan St., Cedarburg, WI 53012 262-375-3891 [email protected] Year Bill Forry 4885 Blue Ridge Rd., Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235 920-743-4750 [email protected] Marshal Dale Peterson P.O. Box 271, Burlington, WI 53105 262-763-8161 [email protected] Board Chairman Duane Miskulin 928 Elm Rd. N., Stevens Point, WI 54481 715-341-3818 [email protected] Dennis Barrington 5423 W. Greenfield Ave., #4, W. Milwaukee, WI 53214 414-455-3771Alt. NEC Jim Tratz 1140 Laager Lane, Oshkosh, WI 54902 920-233-3870 [email protected]. Board Chairman Alan Willis 4059 S. Troy Ave., St. Francis, WI 53235 414-744-2301 [email protected] Director Mike Mahoney 814 Carrington Ave., #1, So. Milwaukee, WI 53172 414-762-5705 [email protected] Asst. Executive Director Mike Kandziora 302 E. Kendale Dr., Oak Creek, WI 53154 414-764-9196 [email protected] Secretary Bob Dessort 1611 Cardinal St., New London, WI 54961 920-982-2773 [email protected]

HOSPITAL & SERVICE FOUNDATIONChairman Ken Wendt 231 S. Ninth Avenue, Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235 920-743-5050 [email protected] Vice Chairman Armin Conradt 4 Northgate Estates, New London, WI 54961 920-538-4112 [email protected] Hospital Chairman Cathy Tratz 1140 Laager Lane, Oshkosh, WI 54902 920-233-3870 [email protected]

Department Address AMVETS Department of Wisconsin War Memorial Center, Room 306

750 N. Lincoln Memorial Dr. Milwaukee, WI [email protected]

414-273-5288/5240Fax: 414-273-1270

Dept. Auxiliary President Ann Palm 1016 Kansas St., Oshkosh, WI 54902 920-235-3856 [email protected]. Auxiliary Liaison Paula Cummings 389 County Road D, Bancroft, WI 54921 715-335-4324 [email protected]. Saddest Bill Forry 4885 Blue Ridge Rd., Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235 920-559-8019 [email protected]. Riders President Tom “Buzzard” Busse 425 Rivermoor Dr., Waterford, WI 53185 262-514-4274 [email protected]. Sons Commander Andy Campbell 323 S. River Road, Burlington, WI 53105 262-716-1925 [email protected]

District & Post Commanders 2012-2013

First District Commander Matt Bergs 2006 21 3/8 St., #409, Rice Lake, WI 54868 715-790-6290 [email protected] 25 Commander Ron Blomberg 2075 21 3/4 St., Rice Lake, WI 54868 715-419-2313 [email protected] 72 Commander Charles Gordon 802 Forest St., Downing, WI 54734 715-651-9231 [email protected] 127 Commander John Vacho W7785 E. Townline Rd., Ladysmith, WI 54848 715-415-4580 [email protected] 128 Commander Leonard Shier P.O. Box 277, Chetek, WI 54728 715-237-2418 [email protected] 190 Commander John Leckel N4525 Cranberry Rd., Spooner, WI 54801 715-635-2712 [email protected] Post 888 Commander John Elam 31 E. Division Ave., Barron, WI 54812 715-637-5104 [email protected] 1998 Commander Suzanne Mills-Wemm 10726 N. Pinecrest Dr., Hayward, WI 54843 715-699-1434 [email protected]

Second District Commander Ron Laux 3628 N. 97th Pl., Milwaukee, WI 53222 414-464-1386 [email protected] 3 Commander Robert Hawkins 2630 Iris Ct., Racine WI 53402 262-681-0237 [email protected] 4 Commander Don Duwe 6821 Bobolink Rd., Racine, WI 53402 262-456-4325 [email protected] 5 Commander Ray Gehrke 8747 W. Dogwood St., Milwaukee, WI 53224 414-751-7318Post 14 Commander Ken Ricciardi 2898 S. Mabbett Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53207 414-744-9234Post 37 Commander Dennis Barrington 5423 W. Greenfield Ave., #4, W. Milwaukee, WI 53214 414-455-3771Post 60 Commander Rebecca Rowland 5394 W. Preserve Ct., Franklin, WI 53132 414-235-4779 [email protected] Post 61 Commander Larry Decker 8415 Kenyon Ave., Wauwatosa, WI 53226 414-771-3696Post 120 Commander Raymond Fay 1523 N. Main St., Racine, WI 53402 262-637-0725 [email protected] 726 Commander Mike Reseberg 6360 Highway M., West Bend, WI 53090 262-675-6243Post 911 Commander Dale Peterson P.O. Box 271, Burlington, WI 53105 262-763-8161 [email protected]

Third District Commander Roger Johnson 632 N. Elgin Pl. , Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235 920-743-5326 [email protected] 18 Commander Randy Meyer 1415 Pennsylvania Ave., Sheboygan, WI 53081 920-980-0310Post 42 Commander Marvin J. Dequaine E6145 Highway K., Algoma, WI 54201 920-487-2248 [email protected] 51 Commander Robert Gamble 5493 Reynolds Rd., Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235 920-559-9458Post 99 Commander Ed Mahloch 4015 Custer St., Manitowoc, WI 54220 920-682-0605Post 1032 Commander Stan Kulas PO Box 301, Reedsville, WI 54230 920-905-3581 [email protected] Post 5767 Commander Robert Werdeo, Jr. 2 E. Mueller Rd.,Kiel, WI 53042 920-894-7011 [email protected]

Fourth District Commander Ron Griffin 1614 Bowen St., Oshkosh, WI 54901 920-232-8257 [email protected] 7 Commander Ron Griffin 1614 Bowen St., Oshkosh WI 54901 920-232-8257 [email protected] 13 Commander Gary Vander Perren 1100 W. Bannerman Ave., Redgranite, WI 54970 920-290-1156Post 30 Commander Gary Ziegler N1367 Julius Dr., Greenville, WI 54942 920-757-0671Post 41 Commander James Wiese 698 E. 2nd St., Apt. 104, Fond du lac, WI 54935 920-322-0857 [email protected] 45 Commander Melvin Borchardt 1401 Wyman Street, New London, WI 54961 920-982-3434Post 1212 Commander Dr. Jeff Wierichs 2 Olde Paltzer Ln., Appleton, WI 54913 920-991-1073 [email protected] 1887 Commander Gary Mader MacArthur Hall, 422 Bell Ave., #237, King, WI 920-258-7557 [email protected]

Fifth District Commander John Akey 1329 Doblon St., Green Bay, WI 54302 920-328-3165Post 6 Commander Brett Babl 1623 Oakes St., Marinette, WI 54143 715-735-4368 [email protected] 10 Commander Stu Kohlin 905 S. Olson St., Shawano, WI 54166 715-584-5075 [email protected] 11 Commander Lisa Orsini 1807 N. Irwin Ave., Green Bay, WI 54302 920-619-3000 [email protected] 54 Commander NOT REVALIDATED Post 57 Commander Ed Koslowski 1117 Forest Grove, Green Bay, WI 54313 920-434-0423 [email protected] 63 Commander Vernon Panske 335 Elm Avenue, Oconto, WI 54153 920-834-5870Post 160 Commander Todd Cornell 7328 Zawalick Lane, Sobieski, WI 54171 920-822-1550

Sixth District Commander Jesse Milanowski P.O.Box 157, Nelsonville, WI 54558 715-340-0903 [email protected] 50 Commander Norma Brotz N8229 River Rd., Phillips, WI 54555 715-339-6398 [email protected] 500 Commander Michelle Reiling W11212 Zerngable Rd., Park Falls, WI 54552 715-762-1850 [email protected]

2012-2013 Department Officers

29


2012-2013 Department Officers (cont’d.)Post 724 Commander Benjamin Zastrow 755 Balsam St., Rhinelander, WI 54501 715-367-0576 [email protected] 1051 Commander Michael Worzalla 1388 County Rd. HH West, Stevens Point, WI 54481 715-341-9698 [email protected] 2000 Commander Richard Jeske W4688 Spruce Rd., Merrill, WI 54452 715-536-2675 [email protected] Post 3929 Commander Ken Krueger 930 Stonebridge Rd., Mosinee, WI 54455 715-693-4457Post 8400 Commander William Spence 1855 Engberg Ln., Phelps, WI 54554 715-545-2517 [email protected]

Seventh District Commander Del Yaroch 206 S. University Ave., Beaver Dam, WI 53916 920-885-6903 [email protected] 33 Commander Del Yaroch 206 S. University Ave., Beaver Dam, WI 53916 920-885-6903 [email protected] Post 35 Commander Dennis Berg 705 N. Church St., Watertown, WI 53098 920-262-0880 [email protected] 69 Commander Alan Bertelrud 175 Hanna Rd., Belleville, WI 53508 608-445-7872Post 151 Commander Joseph Baumann 4802 Goldfinch Dr., Madison, WI 53714 608-221-1220 [email protected] 1181 Commander Robert Smith 208 6th St., Brodhead, WI 53520 608-558-7179

Eighth District Commander Mike Hanke 316 Division St., Chippewa Falls, WI 54729 715-797-1340 [email protected] 1 Commander Randy Onstad 23991 Tracy St., Independence, WI 54747 715-985-3257Post 32 Commander Jon Larson 423 W. Cedar St., Chippewa Falls, WI 54729 715-720-1090 [email protected] 1128 Commander Wayne Rambo P.O. Box 141, Wheeler, WI 54773 715-632-2342Post 1851 Commander Patrick Skroch 2011 Loomis St., LaCrosse, WI 54603 608-784-0203Post 2180 Commander Darrell Santana N9883 16th Ave., Necedah, WI 54646 608-565-2483Post 5494 Commander Tom Teeples 223 N. 5th St., Black River Falls, WI 54615 715-284-4680 [email protected] 6440 Commander Tom Vodacek 27782 State Road 40, New Auburn, WI 54757 715-967-281 [email protected]

Appointed Officers 2012-2013 Aide-de-Camp Dennis Barrington 5423 W. Greenfield Ave., #4, W. Milwaukee WI 53214 414-455-3771 Mike Mahoney 814 Carrington Ave., #1, S. Milwaukee, WI 53172 414-762-5705 [email protected] Michelle Reiling W11212 Zerngable Rd, Park Falls WI 54552 715-762-1850 [email protected] Inspector General Jim Stahl 3252 E. Thompson Ave, St. Francis WI 53235 414-483-4979 [email protected] Historian Robert Dessort 1611 Cardinal Street, New London, WI 54961 920-982-2773 [email protected] P.R.O. & Photographer Robert Dessort 1611 Cardinal Street, New London, WI 54961 920-982-2773Awards Chairman Alan Willis 4059 S. Troy Ave, St. Francis WI 53235 414-744-2301 [email protected] Constitution, Bylaws & Jim Smejkal, Chrmn. W3197 County Trunk O, Appleton, WI 54913 920-420-5180Resolutions Committee jasman1946@sbcglobalnet Chuck Taylor N3520 County Rd. E., Redgranite, WI 54970 920-566-2740 [email protected] Dennis Scherer 3415 S. 15th Street, Manitowoc, WI 54220 920-682-8330 [email protected] Tim Thiers 3713 Macarthur Dr., Manitowoc, WI 54220 920-683-9808 [email protected] Arnie Miller 517 Menasha St., Reedsville, WI 54230 920-754-4029 Jesse Milanowski P.O. Box 157, Nelsonville, WI 54558 715-340-0903 [email protected] Board of Appeals/Grievance Jim Smejkal, Chrmn W3197 County Trunk O, Appleton, WI 54913 920-420-5180Committee [email protected] Mike Mahoney 814 Carrington Ave., Apt. 1, So. Milwaukee, WI 53172 414-762-5705 Richard Bills 6730 South 18th Street, Milwaukee, WI 53221 414-761-1204 Jim Stahl 3252 E. Thompson Ave, St. Francis, WI 53235 414-483-4979 [email protected] Duane Miskulin 928 Elm Rd. N., Stevens Point WI 54481 715-341-3818 [email protected] New Post Committee Jack Cummings, Chrmn. 10305 Reifs Mills Rd., Whitelaw, WI 54247 920-732-4344 Armin Conradt 4 Northgate Estates, New London, WI 54961 920-538-4112 [email protected] Dennis Barrington 5423 W. Greenfield Ave., #4, W. Milwaukee WI 53214 414-455-3771 [email protected] Duane Miskulin 928 Elm Rd. N., Stevens Point WI 54481 715-341-3818 [email protected] Jim Endres 5331 N. 107th St, Milwaukee, WI 53225 414-466-0046 [email protected] Mark Reiling W11212 Zerngable Rd., Park Falls WI 54552 715-762-1850 [email protected] John Nebelsiek 1850 W. River St., Chippewa Falls, WI 54729 715-720-7570 [email protected] Convention Board Duane Miskulin, Chrmn. 928 Elm Rd. N., Stevens Point WI 54481 715-341-3818 [email protected] Mike Mahoney 814 Carrington Ave., #1, S. Milwaukee, WI 53172 414-762-5705 [email protected] Dennis Maeder 8811 West Daphne Street, Milwaukee, WI 53224 414-353-6080 [email protected] Cletius Rataichek 710 Harvest Dr., #6, Brillion, WI 54110 920-524-2105 [email protected] Arnie Miller 517 Menasha St., Reedsville, WI 54230 920-754-4029 [email protected] Ted Sterletske 222 S. Main St., Brillion, WI 54110 920-427-6543 [email protected] Ann Palm 1016 Kansas St, Oshkosh, WI 54902 920-235-3856Membership Committee Steve Chesna, Chrmn 2622 Oakwood Circle, Oshkosh, WI 54904 920-235-2617 [email protected] Matt Bergs 2006 21 3/8 St., #409, Rice Lake, WI 54868 715-790-6290 Ron Laux 3628 N. 97th Pl., Milwaukee, WI 53222 414-464-1386 Jesse Milanowski P.O. Box 157, Nelsonville, WI 54558 715-340-0903 [email protected] Ron Griffin 1614 Bowen St., Oshkosh, WI 54901 920-232-8257 John Akey 1329 Doblon St., Green Bay, WI 54302 920-328-3165 Roger Johnson 632 N. Elgin Pl., Sturgeon bay, WI 54235 920-743-5326 [email protected] Del Yaroch 206 S. University Ave, Beaver Dam, WI 53916 920-885-6903 [email protected] Mike Hanke 316 Division St., Chippewa Falls, WI 54729 715-797-1340 [email protected] Fundraiser Committee Dennis Barrington, Chm. 5423 W. Greenfield Ave., #4, W. Milwaukee, WI 53214 414-455-3771 Duane Miskulin 928 Elm Rd. N., Stevens Point WI 54481 715-341-3818 [email protected] Tim Thiers 3713 McArthur Dr., Manitowoc, WI 54220 920-683-9808 Al Willis 4059 S. Troy Ave., St. Francis, WI 53235 414-744-2301 Jim Stahl 3252 E. Thompson Ave., St. Francis, WI 53235 414-483-4979Convention Sgt.-at-Arms Dale Peterson P.O. Box 271, Burlington, WI 53105 262-763-8161 [email protected] Legislative Committee Tim Thiers, Chrmn. 3713 Macarthur Dr., Manitowoc, WI 54220 920-905-5951 [email protected] Stu Kohlin 905 S. Olson St., Shawano, WI 54166 920-584-5075 Dave Zein 1716 63rd St., Eau Claire, WI 54703 [email protected] Cliff Sorenson 5843 Inwood Dr., Eau Claire, WI 54701 715-830-9492 [email protected] Ken Wendt 231 S. 9th Ave., Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235 920-743-5050 Ted Sterletske 222 S. Main St., Brillion, WI 54110 920-427-6543 Peter Jozefowski 409 Hillcrest Dr., Beaver Dam, WI 53916 920-382-9268 [email protected] Steve Chesna 2622 Oakwood Circle, Oshkosh, WI 54904 920-235-2617 [email protected] Council On Veterans Prog. Dave Schmidt N16365 Lakeshore Dr., Butternut, WI 54514 715-762-4182 [email protected] Grants Committee Duane Miskulin, Chrmn 928 Elm Rd. N., Stevens Point WI 54481 715-341-3818 [email protected]

30


Dennis Maeder 8811 W. Daphne Street, Milwaukee WI 53224 414-353-6080 Dennis Barrington 5423 W. Greenfield Ave., #4, Milwaukee WI 53214 414-455-3771Credentials Committee Peter Jozefowski Chrmn 409 Hillcrest Dr., Beaver Dam, WI 53916 920-382-9268 [email protected] Jim Ruppel 33W7120 Buchanan Street, Cedarburg, WI 53012 262-375-3891 [email protected] Bill Forry 4885 Blue Ridge Dr, Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235 920-743-4750 [email protected] Convention Rules Committee Jim Smejkal, Chrmn. W3197 County Trunk O, Appleton WI 54913 920-420-5180 Mike Mahoney 814 Carrington Ave., Apt. 1, So. Milwaukee, WI 53172 414-762-5705 Dennis Maeder 8811 W. Daphne Street, Milwaukee WI 53224 414-353-6080 Celtus Rataichek 710 Harvest Dr., #6, Brillion WI 54110 920-524-2105 Jim Tratz 1140 Laager Ln., Oshkosh, WI 54902 920-233-3870 Duane Miskulin 928 Elm Rd. N., Stevens Point WI 54481 715-341-3818Personnel Committee Ted Sterletske Chrmn 222 S. Main St., Brillion, WI 54110 920-427-6543 [email protected] Dennis Maeder 8811 W. Daphne Street, Milwaukee WI 53224 414-353-6080 Jim Ruppel 33W7120 Buchanan Street, Cedarburg, WI 53012 262-375-3891 Peter Jozefowski 409 Hillcrest Dr., Beaver Dam, WI 53916 920-382-9268 Mark Reiling, Sr. W11212 Zerngable Rd., Park Falls, WI 54552 715-762-1850 Bill Forry 4885 Blue Ridge Dr, Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235 920-743-4750Programs Committee Mark Reiling, Sr, Chrmn. W11212 Zerngable Rd, Park Falls, WI 54552 715-762-1850 [email protected] Dennis Maeder 8811 W. Daphne Street, Milwaukee WI 53224 414-353-6080 Dennis Barrington 5423 W. Greenfield Ave., #4, Milwaukee WI 53214 414-455-3771 Jim Ruppel 33W7120 Buchanan Street, Cedarburg, WI 53012 262-375-3891 Peter Jozefowski 409 Hillcrest Dr., Beaver Dam, WI 53916 920-382-9268 Bill Forry 4885 Blue Ridge Dr, Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235 920-743-4750Protocol Committee Ted Sterletske Chrmn 222 S. Main St., Brillion, WI 54110 920-427-6543 [email protected] Mike Mahoney 814 Carrington Ave., Apt. 1, So. Milwaukee, WI 53172 414-762-5705 Arnie Miller 517 Menasha St., Reedsville WI 54230 920-754-4029 Dennis Barrington 5423 W. Greenfield Ave., #4, Milwaukee WI 53214 414-455-3771 Armin Conradt 4 Northgate Estates, New London, WI 54961 920-538-4112 Webmaster Jim Ruppel 33W7120 Buchanan Street, Cedarburg, WI 53012 262-375-3891 www.amvets-wi.org [email protected] Miss AMVET White Clover Arnie Miller 517 Menasha St., Reedsville WI 54230 920-754-4029Princess Coordinator [email protected] Miss AMVET White Clover Makayla Pues For appearances, contact Arnie Miller. Princess Women Veterans Rep. Nancy Kaczor 5394 W. Preserve Ct., Franklin, WI 53132 414-235-4779 [email protected] National Guard Liaison Mike Hanke 316 Division St., Chippewa Falls, WI 54729 715-797-1340 [email protected] A.A.D.A.A. Howard Pegelow 7462 River Bend Dr., Milwaukee, WI 53219 414-545-8582 [email protected] American Flag Drawing Doug Rasmussen N8804 8-Mile Rd., Phillips, WI 54555 715-820-1676 [email protected] Americanism Vince Marchetti W5531 Shrine Rd., Necedah, WI 54646 608-565-2787 [email protected] R.O.T.C. Richard Bills 6730 South 18th Street, Milwaukee, WI 53221 414-761-1204Bowling Post 99-Manitowoc Bowling Coordinator Bob Dessort 1611 Cardinal St., New London WI 54961 920-982-2773 E-mail: [email protected] King Campout Coordinator State Camp Out Committee Steve Chesna, Chrmn. 2622 Oakwood Circle, Oshkosh, WI 54904 920-235-2617 [email protected] Ken Wendt 231 S. 9th Ave., Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235 920-743-5050 Keith Maren 1315 S 49th Street, West Milwaukee, WI 53214 414-672-5546 Arnold Miller 517 Menasha St., Reedsville WI 54230 920-754-4029 Dennis Scherer 3415 S. 15th St., Manitowoc WI 54220 920-682-8330 Ted Sterletske 222 S. Main St., Brillion WI 54110 920-427-6543 Mark Reiling, Sr. W11212 Zerngable Rd., Park Falls, WI 54552 715-762-1850 Duane Miskulin 928 Elm Rd. N., Stevens Point WI 54481 715-341-3818Dartball Sturgeon Bay Dartball Coordinator Roger Johnson 632 N. Elgin Pl., Sturgeon bay, WI 54235 920-743-5326 [email protected] Golf Outing Appleton area Golf Outing Coordinator Jim Smejkal W3197 County Trunk O, Appleton, WI 54913 920-420-5180 [email protected] Speakers Bureau Jim Endres, Chrmn. 5331 N. 107th St., Milwaukee WI 53225 414-466-0048 [email protected] Sound Off Staff Howie Pegelow, Editor 7462 River Bend Dr., Milwaukee WI 53219 414-545-8582 [email protected] Jane Pegelow Same as Howie. VAVS Coordinator Ken Wendt 231 S. 9th Ave., Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235 920-743-5050 [email protected] VAVS Hospital Representatives & Deputies Middleton Joseph Baumann 4802 Goldfinch Dr., Madison WI 53714 608-221-1220 [email protected] George Lehmann 700 Marden Ave., King, WI 54946-0605 Lyla Drewes 225 Larkin St., Madison, WI 53707 608-213-0868 Deborah Sellers PO Box 7364, Madison, WI 53707 Zablocki Richard Bills 6730 South 18th Street, Milwaukee, WI 53221 414-761-1204 Kenneth Ruplinger 1516 N. 53rd St., Milwaukee WI 53208 414-771-4001Tomah Charles Roth W5325 6th St., Necedah WI 54646 608-548-2882 Harry Lutz 134 Carol Kay Street, Tomah, WI 54660 608-372-2761 Wayne Rudolph 33162 Frontier Ave., Camp Douglas WI 54618 608-427-6832 William Brokopp W3788 Highway 12 & 16, Lyndon Station WI 53944 608 666-2345King Ken Wendt 231 S. 9th Ave. Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235 920-743-5050 Armin Conradt 4 Northgate Estates, New London, WI 54961 920-538-4112 [email protected] Union Grove Dale Peterson P.O. Box 271, Burlington, WI 53105 262-822-4886 [email protected] Don Larsen, Sr. 2805 Carpenter Ave., Racine, WI 53403 262-930-0930 [email protected] Associate VAVS Representatives Iron Mountain Barry Holm 8899 Bayshore Dr., Gladstone, MI 49837 906-428-4403Minneapolis Tom Armstrong 1220 Knollwood Trail, Altoona, WI 54720 715-831-9435

Appointed Officers 2012-2013 (cont’d.)

★★★★★★★★★★★★★

31

AMVETS Department of WisconsinPo

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Mal 225 165 23 5 1 2 1 193 43 53.49% 85.78%

1 26 21 21 5 0.00% 80.77%

3 21 14 6 3 23 7 85.71% 109.52%

4 176 119 1 25 4 2 1 146 41 63.41% 82.95%

5 48 38 10 48 9 111.11% 100.00%

6 78 75 3 78 2 150.00% 100.00%

7 120 106 1 17 5 129 17 105.88% 107.50%

10 138 57 1 43 6 1 106 78 55.13% 76.81%

11 121 80 1 1 23 3 108 35 68.57% 89.26%

13 60 41 15 56 17 88.24% 93.33%

14 64 30 38 1 2 67 41 92.68% 104.69%

18 18 16 3 2 1 20 1 300.00% 111.11%

25 37 29 3 32 6 50.00% 86.49%

30 27 21 5 1 27 6 83.33% 100.00%

32 60 32 32 23 0.00% 53.33%

33 43 30 13 2 45 16 81.25% 104.65%

35 44 19 6 25 13 0.00% 56.82%

37 63 50 13 1 2 62 13 100.00% 98.41%

41 17 14 1 13 6 0.00% 76.47%

42 65 43 19 4 2 1 63 19 100.00% 96.92%

45 84 56 14 70 24 58.33% 83.33%

50 37 24 1 9 1 35 13 76.92% 94.59%

51 162 114 1 31 6 1 151 46 69.57% 93.21%

54 3 3 3 100.00%

57 31 19 1 1 4 25 9 55.56% 80.65%

60 254 196 21 4 1 220 54 38.89% 86.61%

61 79 38 37 2 1 76 42 142.31% 96.20%

63 28 21 21 7 0.00% 75.00%

69 43 19 1 1 19 18 5.56% 44.19%

72 43 39 39 3 0.00% 90.70%

99 275 187 57 5 1 1 247 88 64.77% 89.82%

120 41 29 1 7 1 38 7 114.29% 92.68%

127 23 14 7 1 22 9 77.78% 95.65%

128 42 26 13 1 38 13 100.00% 90.48%

151 46 38 38 8 0.00% 82.61%160 50 41 9 1 49 9 100.00% 98.00%190 78 68 2 7 3 1 81 11 63.64% 103.85%

500 22 22 22 100.00%

724 51 27 8 1 36 16 50.00% 70.59%

726 19 16 1 17 1 0.00% 89.47%

888 20 8 9 1 18 11 81.82% 90.00%

911 47 11 10 21 17 58.82% 44.68%

1032 132 96 24 3 2 1 120 34 70.59% 90.91%

1051 238 175 31 5 1 1 209 52 59.62% 87.82%

1128 17 15 2 13 76.47%

1181 24 11 13 24 13 100.00% 100.00%

1212 26 23 23 88.46%

1851 26 19 6 4 29 7 85.71% 111.54%

1887 31 29 29 2 0.00% 93.55%

1998 73 38 26 1 1 64 30 86.67% 87.67%

2000 68 64 9 63 14 64.29% 92.65%

2180 37 34 3 37 4 75.00% 100.00%

3929 81 77 3 1 79 5 60.00% 97.53%

5494 85 76 5 1 82 3 166.67% 96.47%

5767 13 2 2 8 0.00% 15.38%

6440 21 3 1 4 10 10.00% 19.05%

8400 20 11 3 2 16 9 33.33% 80.00%Total 3821 2679 5 7 627 84 2 1 2 2 17 12 3374 995 63.72% 88.30%

AMVETS Department of Wisconsin Membership 2013 Thoughts of

You My Child!Memories of another time still come

To me and fill my mind, with thoughts Of you when you were young. I lie awake

‘Till the morning sun comes creepingThrough my window shade,

as I dwell upon Mistakes I’ve made.What I would give to Go back in time

and feel your little Hand in mine.To cherish each fast and Fleeting day.

To hold you close and kiss Away,each pain that life will have in

Store and try to give you so much more.You are part and will always be,

imbedded in the soul of me.While I’m Here, I want to say,

that I’ve loved you Each and every dayand when my time on Earth is gone,

The priviledge was mine to have been your Mom.

5things you can’t recover in life:

1. A stone after it’s thrown2. A word after it’s said3. Time after it’s gone4. Trust after it’s lost5. An occasion after it’s missed

Her hair was up in a pony tail,Her favorite dress tied with a bow.Today was Daddy’s Day at school,And she couldn’t wait to go.

But her mommy tried to tell her,That she probably should stay home;Why the kids might not understand,If she went to school alone.

But she was not afraid;She knew just what to say.What to tell her classmatesOf why he wasn’t there today.

But still her mother worried,For her to face this day alone.And that was why, once again,She tried to keep her daughter home.

But the little girl went to school,Eager to tell them all.About a dad she never sees, A dad who never calls.

There were daddies along the wall in back, For everyone to meet.Children squirming impatiently,Anxious in their seat.

One by one the teacher calledOn a student from the class.To introduce their daddy,As seconds slowly passed.

Daddy’s Poem At last the teacher called her name,Every child turned to stare.Each of them was searching,For a man who wasn’t there.

“Where’s her daddy at?”She heard a boy call out.“She probably doesn’t have one,”Another student dared to shout.

And from somewhere near the back,She heard a daddy say,“Looks like another deadbeat dad,Too busy to waste his day.”

The words did not offend her,As she smiled up at her Mom.And looked back at her teacher, Who told her to go on.

And with hands behind her back,Slowly she began to speak.And out from the mouth of a child,Came words incredibly unique.

“My Daddy couldn’t be here,Because he lives so far away.But I know he wishes he could be,Since this is such a special day.

And though you cannot meet him,I wanted you to knowAll about my daddy,And how much he loves me so.

He loved to tell me stories,He taught me to ride my bike;He surprised me with pink roses,And taught me to fly a kite.

We used to share fudge sundaes,And ice cream in a cone.And though you cannot see him.I’m not standing here alone.

’Cause my daddy’s always with me,Even though we are apart;I know because he told me,He’ll forever be in my heart.”

With that, her little hand reached up, And lay across her chest.Feeling her own heartbeat,Beneath her favorite dress.

And from somewhere there in the crowd of dads, Her mother stood in tears.Proudly watching her daughter,Who was wise beyond her years.

For she stood up for the loveOf a man not in her life.Doing what was best for her,Doing what was right.

And when she dropped her hand back downStaring straight into the crowd,She finished with a voice so soft,But its message clear and loud.

“I love my daddy very much,he’s my shining star.And if he could, he’d be here,But heaven’s just too far.

You see, he is an American SoldierAnd he died just this past year;When a roadside bomb hit his convoy And taught Americans to fear.

But sometimes when I close my eyes, it’s like he never went away.”And then she closed her eyes,And saw him there that day.

And to her mother’s amazement,She witnessed with surprise,A room full of daddies and children,All starting to close their eyes.

Who knows what they saw before them; Who knows what they felt inside.Perhaps for merely a second,They saw him at her side.

“I know you’re with me, Daddy,” to the silence she called out.And what happened next made believers,of those once filled with doubt.

Not one in that room could explain it, for each of their eyes had been closed.But there on the desk beside her,was a fragrant long-stemmed pink rose.

And a child was blessed, if only for a momentBy the love of her shining star.And given the gift of believing,That heaven is never too far.

my life in world war ii - amvets department of wisconsin … · my life in world war ii by bob...

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